NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: contaminants, traditional food, nutrient levels

Objective(s): To administer a health communication and risk perception survey tailored for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region – the Inuvialuit Food Messages Survey; to capture Inuvialuit values and perspectives of the country food system through interviews and photos for research and community use; and to determine the current concentrations of contaminants and nutrients in Inuvialuit country foods.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5457. The short-term objectives of this study are to: i) administer a health communication and risk perception survey tailored for the Inuvaluit Settlement Region (ISR) – the Inuvialuit Food Messages Survey; ii) capture Inuvialuit values and perspectives of the country food system through interviews and photos for research and community use; iii) determine the current concentrations of contaminants and nutrients in Inuvialuit country foods. In the long term, this research will foster linkages between biological monitoring programs and human health research studies to support regional and territorial human health risk assessments and messaging initiatives, including the Inuit Health Survey. Further, this research will foster the consumption of country foods. Samples of country foods will be collected in communities between February 1st and Aug 31st 2022 by local research assistants. The foods will be prepared by the local research assistants and a fist-size portion of each part of the animal (if applicable) will be taken and placed in a sample bag - samples of fresh (uncooked) tissue will be collected from the same animal. This will let the team learn about what or how cooking, drying or ageing the food changes it. Details about the animal will be recorded including the location of harvest, animal size/sex and use of lead shot (for birds). Food Analysis: 1. All fresh/frozen sample replicates (n = 3-10) will be analyzed for total mercury, methylmercury, cadmium, lead, selenium, zinc, PUFAs and vitamin D. 2. A subset of samples (e.g., fresh/frozen muscle and fat/maktak from marine mammals; muscle of predatory fish) will be analyzed in 2020/2021. 3. Samples will be archived for future analyses and additional nutrients (year 2 or 3 of project, pending funding and community and regional priorities). 4. Two veterinarians will test food and blood samples for pathogens. 5. Research results will be reviewed with Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT). Health and Social Services (HSS), Inuvaluit Regional Corporation (IRC), Joint Secretariat (JS), Hunters and Trappers Committees (HTC) and Community Corporations for interpretation prior to final reporting. Inuvialuit Food Messages Survey: The research team will draft an Inuvialuit Food Messages Survey prepared based on outcomes from interviews conducted previously. The draft survey will be piloted in Tuktoyaktuk and Paulatuk in January 2022 to receive feedback on language and content. The final survey will be administered in Aklavik, Inuvik, Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk and Tuktoyaktuk in spring/summer 2022. Photo Collection: A youth ambassador in each community will be recruited to collect photos of country food and country food activities throughout their respective community. Photos will be used for research purposes, such as a photo-lead interview, and a community photo project. Interviews: Interviews will be conducted with Inuvialuit Knowledge-holders in winter/spring 2022 to record diverse knowledge and perspectives about the Inuvialuit Food System. Participants will include harvesters, Elders and youth (n = 200) from each community in the ISR. Project initiation: Community and regional consultation took place in March-April 2021 to receive input on the project. The proposed research reflects the input from individuals, locals, regional and territorial organizations. Project updates were sent to all HTCs and CCs in the ISR in February, May and November 2021 to develop the project proposal and methodology. The local research assistants will help with project coordination for each community. Interpretation of results will occur in communities throughout. Posters, postcards, public meetings and radio announcements will be used to advertise the project in the communities and invite youth and elders to participate. Team leaders will present to communities and local organizations annually (virtually or in person) and results presentations will take place in each community in March 2024. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 26, 2023 to December 31, 2023.