ONE X ONE children’s charity and Assembly of First Nations announces investment in National First Nations School Nutrition Program

TORONTO, Nov. 29 – ONE X ONE Foundation, a charitable organization committed to fighting poverty and preserving the lives of children in Canada and around the world, and the Assembly of First Nations, the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada, today announced the launch of “National First Nations School Nutrition Program”, a national outreach initiative designed to provide First Nations children who live in poverty with a school nutrition program. Ten First Nations schools and communities across Canada will benefit from the investment beginning in January 2008, with more schools scheduled to participate over the next year. “In order to learn properly and begin to reverse the unacceptably high drop-out rate, our children need a proper breakfast and lunch at school,” says Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine. “We have discovered that a surprising number of schools do not have such programs, or have inadequate snack programs. This partnership with ONE X ONE is a critical component towards building healthy minds and bodies and towards building a better future for our children and our communities.”

Plagued with unsafe drinking water, inadequate housing, illness and suicide, First Nations face tremendous poverty and poor living conditions. The National First Nations School Nutrition Program will benefit First Nations communities by ensuring that First Nations children have access to a proper breakfast and lunch at school – one of the basic building blocks to learning.

The Assembly of First Nations asked 633 First Nations schools about the need for a school meal program. Of the 250 schools that have replied to date, all have identified the need for help. First Nations communities said the main barrier to implementing a school nutrition program was lack of funding. Accordingly, a funding gap exists for both communities with and without school nutrition programs.

“One of ONE X ONE’s key priorities is to invest in Canada’s children and develop the leaders of our future,” says Joelle Berdugo Adler, founder of ONE X ONE. “The majority of ONE X ONE’s domestic funds will be invested in First Nations youth.”

The National First Nations School Nutrition Program announcement follows a study released on Monday by Ottawa’s Centre for the Study of Living Standards. Using figures from the 2001 census, the study reveals that only 52 per cent of Canada’s aboriginals earned a high school diploma compared to 70 per cent of non-aboriginals. The gap at the post-secondary level widens with only 8.9 per cent of aboriginals graduating from university compared to almost 22 per cent of non-aboriginals. If the gap were closed, aboriginals would benefit greatly, the study says.

First Nations children have an increased risk of obesity and are more likely to live in food-insecure households compared to the overall Canadian population. Research supports the fact that school-based nutritional interventions can have a positive impact on students’ diet, health and learning outcomes.

The National First Nations School Nutrition Program will roll out in the following 10 First Nations schools and their communities:

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Velma Sutherland, principal of John Field Elementary in British Columbia, is delighted to be chosen as one of the schools for the National First Nations School Nutrition Program. “Some of our kids come to school hungry, and others are making food choices that are fast and unhealthy. Refined carbohydrates are often the main source of nutrition which increases the chances of health problems such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. The bottom line is that many of our students do not get enough of the right kinds of food. This program will help First Nations children thrive and learn to make better food choices for a greater sense of self and well-being”, says Sutherland.

Paul Sparkes, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, CTVglobemedia and ONE X ONE Board Member, will lead the implementation the National First Nations School Nutrition Program across Canada.

ONE X ONE is currently engaged in projects assisting children around the world including “Free The Children”, a high school development program for girls in Kenya under the leadership of Belinda Stronach, “Healthy Kids International” a children’s medical program in Rwanda under the auspices of Edward and Suzanne Rogers and a partnership with “Yéle Haiti”, a movement established by musician Wyclef Jean that provides aid, resources and inspiration to the people of Haiti.

About Assembly of First Nations

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. For more information visit www.afn.ca.

About ONE X ONE

ONE X ONE is a non-profit foundation founded by Joelle Berdugo Adler in 2005. ONE X ONE is committed to preserving and improving the lives of children in Canada and around the world. ONE X ONE is dedicated to helping create a world where children can live safely and with dignity. For more information visit www.onexone.org.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine and Joey Berdugo Adler will be available for interviews and photos during Education Day at the Rogers Centre Pow Wow on Friday, November 30 at 12:30 p.m.

For further information: To coordinate interviews or obtain additional information please contact: Gillian McArdle, Shauna Simons, Media Profile, (416) 504-8464, gillian@mediaprofile.com, shauna@mediaprofile.com