Observations of Environmental Changes and Potential Dietary Impacts in Two Communities in Nunavut, Canada

ORIGINAL RESEARCH Observations of environmental changes and potential dietary impacts in two communities in Nunavut, Canada TL Nancarrow 1, HM Chan 2 1McGill University, Montreal, Canada 2University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada Submitted: 1 November 2009; Revised: 29 March 2010; Published: 18 June 2010 Nancarrow TL, Chan HM Observations of environmental changes and potential dietary impacts in two communities in Nunavut, Canada Rural and Remote Health 10: 1370. (Online), 2010 Available from: http://www.rrh.org.au A B S T R A C T Introduction: Inuit from communities across the Arctic are still existing in subsistence living. Hunting, fishing and gathering is an important part of the culture and the harvested ‘country food’ provides sources of nutrients invaluable to maintaining the health of the populations. However, Inuit are voicing their concerns on how observed climate change is impacting on their traditional life. The objective of this study was to report on observed climate changes and how they affect the country food harvest in two communities in the Canadian Arctic. The nutritional implications of these changes are discussed and also how the communities need to plan for adaptations. Methods: A total of 17 adult participants from Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk, Nunavut were invited to participate. Participants were selected using purposeful sampling methods selecting the most knowledgeable community members for the study. Inuit Elders, hunters, processors of the animals, and other community members above the age of 18 years were selected for their knowledge of harvesting and the environment. Two-day bilingual focus groups using semi-directed, unstructured questions were held in each community to discuss perceived climate changes related to the access and availability of key species. Key topics of focus included ice, snow, weather, marine mammals, land mammals, fish, species ranges, migration patterns, and quality and quantity of animal populations. Maps were used to pinpoint harvesting locations. A qualitative analysis categorizing strategy was used for analysis of © TL Nancarrow, HM Chan, 2010. A licence to publish this material has been given to ARHEN http://www.rrh.org.au 1 data. This strategy involves coding data in order to form themes and to allow for cross-comparison analysis between communities. Each major animal represented a category; other categories included land, sea, and weather. Results were verified by the participants and community leaders. Results: Three themes emerged from the observations: (1) ice/snow/water; (2) weather; and (3) changes in species. Climate change can affect the accessibility and availability of the key species of country foods including caribou, marine mammals, fish, birds and plants. Various observations on relationship between weather and population health and distributions of the animal/plant species were reported. While many of the observations were common between the two communities, many were community specific and inconsistent. Participants from both communities found that climate change was affecting the country food harvest in both positive and negative ways. Key nutrients that could be affected are protein, iron, zinc, n-3 fatty acids, selenium and vitamins D and A. Conclusion: Community members from Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk have confirmed that climate change is affecting their traditional food system. Local and regional efforts are needed to plan for food security and health promotion in the region, and global actions are needed to slow down the process of climate change. Key words: Arctic, caribou, climate change, country food, Inuit, local marine mammals, nutrients, nutrition, observations, traditional diet. Introduction activities 9. Decreased intake of country food and increased intake of high-energy, low nutrient market food may put Inuit communities at risk for micronutrient deficiencies 3, ‘Country food’ is locally derived plant, animal, and fish obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes 9,10 . foods, which are harvested from the surrounding Furthermore, consumption of country food is associated with environment. It is a well documented source of nutritional, greater food security 6,7 . cultural, physical, social, and economic strength for Inuit communities across the Arctic 1-5. Currently country food is a As numerous studies suggest, Indigenous populations of the major contributor of key nutrients to Inuit populations across Arctic including Inuit, have already experienced climate the Arctic, even though it makes up only 8–38% of food change and its impacts 11-17 . Some of these climate changes energy 3. In Repulse Bay, country food is the major source of observed in the regions studied, include unpredictable protein, iron, zinc, phosphorus, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, weather, earlier break up and later freeze up of ice, thinning vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, even though it makes up a ice, melting glaciers, decreasing lake and stream levels, and mere 16% of total energy intake 6. Country food in Kugaaruk, changes in animal populations and travel conditions12,13,15 . although only 10% of food energy intake, was found to be These changes can affect the access and availability of the major source of protein, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 country food in either positive or negative ways, depending and cholesterol and an important source of vitamin A, on the locations of traditional ground, availability of mode of thiamine, riboflavin, iron and zinc 7. Furthermore, marine transportation for the hunters, and the changes of distribution mammal blubber is a major source omega n-3 fatty acids 8. of the animals in relation to the location of the villages. Besides having superior nutritional value, the harvesting, processing, and consumption of country food is associated There is now a consensus within the scientific community with a more active lifestyle, an increase in cultural morale that increasing temperatures and other climate changes over and food diversity, and participation in culturally-specific the last 50 years are caused by human industrial activity 18 . © TL Nancarrow, HM Chan, 2010. A licence to publish this material has been given to ARHEN http://www.rrh.org.au 2 Although the majority of greenhouse gases do not come settlement 21 . In 2006 the community consisted of 688 people from the Arctic region, climate change is occurring there at living in 137 dwellings 22 . The main sources of income are an increased rate compared with other parts of the world 19 . subsistence harvesting, government jobs, selling of 7 Over the next century, the level of atmospheric CO 2 handicrafts, and government assistance . In 2001, the yearly compared with the pre-industry level is expected to double 20 , income for a family of four in Kugaaruk was $37,00022 , and overall temperatures in the Arctic are expected to compared with the territorial average of $48,100 in increase by 2.5 °C by mid-century, to 5–7°C by the end of the Nunavut 7. Most frequently consumed country food in the century 20 . Kitikmeot region are caribou, Arctic char, muskox, trout, eider duck, ringed seal, and beluga 3. Climate change can potentially impact the harvest of plants and animals which are nutritionally, culturally, and Repulse Bay/Naujaat (latitude 66.56057, longitude economically important to Inuit. The aim of this study was to 86.24727): The English translation of Naujaat is ‘Seagull report on climate change observations from two Inuit nesting place’. Repulse Bay, or Naujaat is in the Kivalliq communities in the Canadian Arctic and to make direct links region of Nunavut, Canada (Fig1). It is a coastal town with to key species and nutrients that may be affected in the Inuit 153 dwellings and 748 people, as in the 2006 census23 . In the diet. The objectives were to: (i) gather qualitative Kivalliq region, the most frequently consumed country food information regarding the potential influences that climate is caribou, char, beluga, trout, ringed seal, walrus and change is having on species and hunting/harvesting activities narwhal 22 . The main sources of income are government or in two Arctic communities; and (ii) identify the sensitive community jobs, government assistance, fishing, trapping, areas where adaptation plans for the environmental changes hunting, and the sale of handicrafts 6. Yearly income for full are needed. time workers in 2001 was recorded as $34,300 22 compared with the territorial average of $48,100 in Nunavut for that time. Methodology Ethics and research agreements Participating communities Ethical approval was obtained from the Human Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Agriculture and Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay community members were Environmental Sciences, McGill University. Preliminary participants in this study due to their extensive country food meetings with leaders of Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay, use and their concern over climate change impacts in their Nunavut took place in February 2005 and research communities. agreements detailing the research protocol, responsibility of the researchers, risks and benefits to the communities and Kugaaruk (latitude 68.5327, longitude 89.807495): The forms of results of communications were signed between the English translation of Kugaaruk is ‘River flowing through researchers and the Hamlet Council. A participant consent the community or used as a water supply and for fishing’. form (written in both Inuktitut and English) was used in The predominantly Inuit community of Kugaaruk

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