Communicating Contaminant Information to Inuit: The Northern Contaminants Program

1. Communicating Contaminant Information to Inuit: The Northern Contaminants Program Sound Management of Chemicals Working Group: Tucson 2008 2008 Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Northern Contaminants Program

2. Inuit in Canada • 55,000 Inuit in Canada • 53 Communities • Nunatsiavut • Nunavik • Nunavut • The Inuvialuit Region

4. The not so pristine Arctic • 1970-80s – scientist discover contaminants in the Arctic.

5. The Contaminants: Heavy Metals mercury, lead, cadmium… • Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) PCBs, DDTs, toxaphene, chlordanes, HCHs… • New Chemicals e.g. brominated flame retardants, fluorinated organic compounds… including current use pesticides

6. Air Ocean River

7. Mean Intake of Chlordane, Toxaphene and Mercury in Northern Canada (µg/kg/d) 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 Chlordane Toxaphene 0.4 Mercury 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 Inuit Dene Yukon PTDI N=802 N=1875 N=1012 Kuhnlein, Chan, Receveur. Int J Circ Health, 2001

9. The Northern Contaminants Program • 4.4 million dollar program • $1.8K Human Health • $.9.5K Environment Trends • $.7K Education Communication • $1.350 National/Regional Coordination

10. “The aim of the NCP is to work towards reducing and, where possible, eliminating contaminants in traditional/country foods, while providing information that assist individuals and communities in making informed decisions about their food use”

11. The priorities of the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) • Levels and trends in the environment & wildlife • Levels, trends and effects in people • Communication, education, and capacity building • International Action

12. Human Health 1.8 Million • Exposure Assessment • Epidemiological Research • Toxicological Research • Benefit/Risk Evaluation and Communication

13. Annual sampling Sampling every 5 years Wildlife Monitoring $ 9.5K

14. Teaching the youth about the benefits of country foods Education $7K Training frontline workers Online Course Elder youth exchange

15. But not just Inuit are effected, Risk Benefit Communication also needs to be geared to the Other aboriginal peoples of Canada’s north • Dene (29 communities) • Yukon First Nation (14 communities) • Metis

18. Developing Capacity • $1.350K

19. Networks for Communication NCP Management Committee * *Includes Aboriginal Partners Territorial Environmental Contaminants Committees * Scientific Community Regional Contaminants Coordinators Frontline Community Workers (CHRs, Wildlife Officers, local communicators etc.) Northerners (Community residents)

21. Developing Partnerships

22. Networks for Communication NCP Management Committee * *Includes Aboriginal Partners Territorial Environmental Contaminants Committees * Scientific Community Regional Contaminants Coordinators Frontline Community Workers (CHRs, Wildlife Officers, local communicators etc.) Northerners (Community residents)

24. The Territorial Contaminants Committees are central to the development, review and flow of communications between the communities, researchers and the NCP. • key communicators and frequently act as developers, reviewers and distributors of communication messages and materials in the region • a conduit through which communities can raise concerns and perspectives to the national management levels of the program

26. Networks for Communication NCP Management Committee * *Includes Aboriginal Partners Territorial Environmental Contaminants Committees * Scientific Community Regional Contaminants Coordinators Frontline Community Workers (CHRs, Wildlife Officers, local communicators etc.) Northerners (Community residents)

28. Networks for Communication NCP Management Committee * *Includes Aboriginal Partners Territorial Environmental Contaminants Committees * Scientific Community Regional Contaminants Coordinators Frontline Community Workers (CHRs, Wildlife Officers, local communicators etc.) Northerners (Community residents)

30. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Online Contaminants Course

31. Networks for Communication NCP Management Committee * *Includes Aboriginal Partners Territorial Environmental Contaminants Committees * Scientific Community Regional Contaminants Coordinators Frontline Community Workers (CHRs, Wildlife Officers, local communicators etc.) Northerners (Community residents)

32. Putting the information into context:Getting to know the communities How do harvesting activities, wage employment, food mail, the introduction of a new store manger and fresh foods in the community influence the research and communication efforts? Where is this contextual information to help us understand if our food is safe to eat?

33. Working with Researchers

35. Elders Science Retreat “A perfect setting for thought-provoking discussions on how traditional knowledge is being applied to environmental contaminant crises. It gave me an opportunity to experience Dene culture first-hand, and consequently has changed the way that I implement southern standards in the North.” (from a written evaluation of the 1999 retreat)

36. Potential Impact of Contaminants Communication Impacts on health and behaviour (physical, mental, social), Increased anxiety and stress; Decreased hunting and fishing activities; Decreased consumption of country foods; Increased exposure to new risks (heart diseases &diabetes); Distrust of scientific information.

37. Nutrition in Nunavut 56% Food Insecurity (vs. Canada = 14.7%)

39. What we know… • People have better nutrition on the days they eat country food: • Higher iron • Higher zinc • Higher protein • Lower saturated fat

40. Loss of Traditional Food Systems ↓ transfer of cultural knowledge to youth ↓ density of species ↓ harvesting ↑ concern of environmental contaminants ↓ number of species ↓ culture specific food activities ↑ sedentary life ↓ cultural moral ↓ dietary diversity ANEMIA, FOOD INSECURITY, OBESITY, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, TOOTH LOSS, INFECTIONS, CANCER, TRANSMITION OF CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE, ETC. Chan 2008

41. Why NCP is a model for research programs • Strategic yet balanced and flexible program • A program designed with a basis in sound science and responsible research; • Partnerships with open communication networks; • Ongoing processes of capacity-building using a variety of approaches; and a commitment of resources to support these activities.

42. Local Solutions:Arctic Char Program Use of Arctic Char to minimize the exposure levels of POPs in pregnant Inuit women

43. It may be irresponsible to continue bombarding northern community members with information about contaminants, for fear of increasing their anxiety around the issue. It may be more appropriate to insert contaminants messaging into existing public health messages and build capacity to individuals in order to make informed food choices.

44. Qujannamiik!