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Yukon Hunters Asked to Donate Unused Harvests to First Nations Health Programs

Friday, 16 August 2019 16:01

Photo courtesy of Yukon Hospitals

Yukon hunters are being asked to donate any portion of their unused harvest to the First Nations Health Programs at Whitehorse Hospital this year.

Director of the First Nations Health Programs at the Whitehorse General Hospital Laura Salmon  is asking Yukon hunters to donate any spare portions of animals they're not harvesting to her program this year.

The programs run by Yukon hospitals aims to provide nutritional and other support to First Nations, Inuit and Metis people  through traditional Indigenous culture and values.

Salmons says any portion of donated harvest  is greatly appreciated by the patients.

"They can call our coordinator at (867) 393-8891 (to get involved). We make it as easy on the hunter as possible. They can take quarters of an animal, such as a moose or caribou, and they can take it to our partner butcher. (The butcher) makes sure that they prepare the meat in the way that we need it needs to be here at the hospital. We take care of the rest."

Salmon says numerous First Nations people benefit from the program each year.

"The program continues to be high demand.(Patients) say that it helped them with their healing journey and that's what we're here to do. We're here to help them feel better."

Salmon says the donated harvested food gives First Nation people ease-of-mind knowing that the food is nutritious.

"The food is nourishing,  it comes from the land and it even acts as medicine in some ways. In many First Nations culture, some foods can't be distinguished from medicine because it's part of the bodies overall health and wellness."

Hunting season in the Yukon officially kicked off on August 1st.

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