Training Session: Dining Hall
at AIRS Boarding School

Joyce White - a CHR for 11 years in her community on the east
coast of Vancouver Island. She has worked in education, health
and social development in First Nations. Joyce attended the
Alberni Indian Residential School on Vancouver Island (AIRS).

Residential schools or boarding schools had diets that
Aboriginal children were not used to. Aboriginal cultures are
often potlatch societies where feasting is a custom. Residential
school diets effectively removed a way of life for Aboriginal
people and had a devastating effect on Aboriginal culture.
Residential schools were designed on a military structure.
Boys and girls were separated and the dining hall at AIRS
was the only place where Joyce could see her brother
who also attended the school. AIRS had an extremely
regimented itinerary and daily routine for the children.

There were many illnesses as a result of having to eat unappetizing
and unfamiliar food. Punishments ensued if food was not eaten and
finished. It was so difficult to eat the food that children often played
games to fool themselves into believing the food was
something that they were accustomed to like fish or other food from
home. They would often plug their noses to disguise the taste of the
food they had to eat. Children at AIRS altered the texture and
appearance of the food and bartered food with others in order to
help them eat what was served.

Bad tasting food was not the only problem at AIRS: there were
many hungry times as well. The hunger was not only physical
but also spiritual.

Aboriginal children come from a society that values its food and
its plentiful supply. Food is a basic need but how food affects
our lives depends on our surroundings. Culture can be a
determinant of what we eat. Eating fulfils both biological and
social needs. Social processes, religion, economy,
and politics shape the nature of our food intake. What children
learn about food and eating shapes how they view food as
adults.

Over the past three generations a lot has changed in the way
we deal with food and the ways we can get food. These days,
the economy dictates a lot about food. We live in an instant
economy with fast food and instant gratification. We no longer
plan our meals and we certainly do not plan to have enough
food to last over a winter season like in the old days. Preparation was
a cornerstone to having enough to eat in the older days. More
and more, women have to work to help support a family,
therefore there is even less cooking at home. Technology has
affected food as well. We have microwaves and food laden
with preservatives; we have freezers and refrigerators.

We must remain aware of the role food plays in Aboriginal
culture in the past and in the present. The world is changing
and modernizing to make our lives simpler when it comes to
food preparation. As Aboriginal people, it is important to learn
about and use time-honoured food preparation techniques and
eat traditional foods so that we can pass on these cultural legacies.