So I was watching my favorite show last night, "The Biggest Loser" with my wife and we started talking about the show towards the ending. Among our discussion the health issues that Aboriginal people are facing such as diabetes, obesity and food choices came up. As we were talking I had this brilliant idea that what if someone (perhaps I'll research or try it later) were to document, film and record a show were an Aboriginal person living on a reserve was trying to lose weight and get healthy. The only thing is that they are trying to do this while living on a welfare budget (most welfare payments for a single person is between $195-$215, depending on which community you reside in e.g. a Northern community versus a Prairie reservation).
If most people don't know this, most Aboriginal communities have sky high unemployment rates, so the majority of people living on the reserve are living on welfare payments and trying to survive from month to month. Thankfully there is the option of living off of the land, e.g. hunting, fishing and trapping. Finally on top of this the price of food while living in a northern reservation is catastrophic. For example, the price of fresh fruit compared to buying it in an urban place would be so much different, due to the price of shipping/freight. I recall seeing a jug of milk sold for $12, compared to what we pay down south which is $3.50 or so.
I would like to see a show like this, whether it is made for T.V. (who knows perhaps it may get international recognition or picked up by A.P.T.N.), or documented and shown on YouTube or something. I'm just trying to get the ball rolling here folks, let me know what you think.
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I think thats a good idea Steve, the price of food even in Grand Rapids which is only 4 hours from Winnipeg is crazy. People who can afford it are able to do a lot of shopping out of town and stock their shelves and freezers, but the majority cannot afford to do this. It is sad to see people who do not have vehicles and cannot afford to shop out of town walking through the limited selections of expensive food choices offered. They get to the till with a full cart to find the cost of that cart could have bought 3 carts in a Winnipeg grocery store.
ReplyDeleteI think you should take your idea and run with it. Its a good one.