Hot breakfast boosts attendance at Fort Good Hope school

Fort Good Hope’s Jaydon Kakfwi is three weeks into his new role leading Chief T’Selehye School’s breakfast program.

Kakfwi, a former student at the school, preps food for roughly 20 to 40 students daily. Items on the new menu include smoothies, cereal, toasts, eggs, hash browns and bacon – an upgrade from the usual Cheerios and a slice of toast.

“The kids are looking forward to coming to school,” he told Cabin Radio, pointing out a noticeable difference in students’ attendance since he took up the position.

“I’m just another rez kid, just like them,” he said. “We are slowly getting more interest from the kids since I came in here and started making a variety of different breakfasts, which increases their chances of coming to school in the morning and they look forward to the snacks.”

When the local grocery stores run out of the required seasonings or dairy products, Kakfwi said he tries to get creative with the resources available.

In the future, Kakfwi wants to take a culinary course at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. His short-term plans focus on expanding food options at the school and ensuring more students feel encouraged to show up for class with a healthy start to their day.

Kakfwi also wants more students to volunteer in the kitchen in case they decide to pursue this kind of work later on.

“Hearing the kids say, ‘Good morning’ and ask, ‘What’s for snacks?’ – then telling them, ‘It’s a surprise, you’ll have to wait'” – that’s the part Kakfwi looks forward to most.

He described how many people struggle to afford food in the community, especially with limited job opportunities.

“They really have to look at what they are buying,” Kakfwi said. “From what I saw, one steak costs up to $36. As for wild meat, you can get a whole caribou for $200. That can probably last you a month.”

“It’s delicious,” said Isibelle Manuel, asked to describe the quality of food students are offered. “I love how warm it is.”

Seventeen-year-old Manuel, a dedicated cross-country skier and junior ranger, is a regular attendee at the school. The hot breakfast each morning is one of the reasons she and some of her friends are eager to be there.

She, too, finds the prices of food to be high, at least compared to Yellowknife.

“I kind-of got used to it. We don’t have that much money,” she said, “but I’m not a picky eater, either.”