Gendered dimensions of environmental health, contaminants and global change in Nunavik, Canada

Abstract

Ainsi que l’a démontré la littérature universitaire au cours des deux dernières décennies, la pollution est une importante menace potentielle à la santé à court et à long terme des êtres humains et de l’environnement naturel de l’Arctique, de même qu’elle soulève des questions de justice sociale et environnementale. Certaines études ont établi un lien entre des polluants tels que les métaux lourds, les polluants organiques de longue durée et les radionucléides, et l’usage traditionnel des nourritures locales par les peuples autochtones, y compris les Inuit. Ayant, d’une multitude de manières, un impact nuisible sur les communautés inuit, ces polluants représentent l’une des manifestations du changement global à travers le Grand Nord circumpolaire. En prenant pour point d’investigation la communauté d’Inukjuak, Nunavik (nord du Québec), Canada, cet article examine les rôles des femmes et des hommes inuit dans leur participation aux activités de chasse et à l’identification des polluants-contaminants; il démontre comment les hommes et les femmes construisent différemment cette question cruciale des contaminants. L’article examine de plus pourquoi le fait d’inclure les perspectives des deux sexes est essentiel au développement de politiques, de stratégies et de programmes environnementaux efficaces en réponse à ces contaminants.As has been well-documented in the scholarly literature over the last two decades, contaminants pose a potentially significant threat to the short and long-term health of Arctic human and natural environments and raise questions of social and environmental justice. Studies link contaminants such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and radionuclides with the use of traditional country foods by Indigenous peoples including the Inuit. Adversely impacting Inuit communities in a myriad of ways, contaminants represent one manifestation of global change across the circumpolar North. Focusing on the community of Inukjuak, Nunavik (Northern Québec), Canada, this paper investigates the roles of Inuit women and men vis-à-vis participation in hunting activities and the identification of contaminants, and demonstrates how women and men construct the lead contaminant issue differently. Additionally, the paper explores why including the perspectives of both is critical to the development of effective environmental health policies, programs and strategies in response to these contaminants

Effect of dietary calcium intake on lead exposure in Inuit children attending childcare centres in Nunavik

“…Although the use of lead shotshells to hunt migratory birds was banned in Canada in 1999, they can still be legally used to harvest upland game birds and small mammals since the hunt of migratory game birds is regulated only by the federal "non-toxic" shot policy that is still in effect today (Environment Canada 2000). Despite a ban on the use of lead shot ammunition in Nunavik (Couture 2010;Couture et al 2012), a survey conducted with hunters from Inukjuak in 2004-2005 revealed that only 31 % of respondents were aware that the use of lead ammunition was banned in Nunavik communities (Kafarowski 2006). Recently, observational visits revealed that 60 % of the Nunavik stores were selling lead shotshells (Couture 2010).…”

Lead exposure in Nunavik: from research to action

“…Yet, in 2004 and 2005, in Inukjuak, a survey of hunters on the use of lead shot ammunition revealed that only 31% of respondents were aware that the use of lead ammunition was banned in the community ( 40 ). Hence, according to Serge Déry of the NRBHSS: “Since very few assessment studies have focused on this subject, we cannot be certain that the message conveyed through previous communication strategies were well received and understood.…”

Climate change effects on human health in a gender perspective: some trends in Arctic research

“…Though the research addressing intersections of human health, climate change and gender is indeed scarce, there are some multi/transdisciplinary studies where these intersections are explored. One can mention, for example, the research carried out by Joanna Kafarowski on gendered dimensions of environmental health and contaminants in Nunavik in Canada ( 3 , 46 , 47 ). Kafarowski studies the differences between women's and men's perceptions of contaminants’ threat to human health and shows that men and women not only have different perceptions of health risks but also develop different adaptation strategies.…”

“…Despite the formal recognition of the importance of gender ‘lenses’ for understanding the Arctic human development ( 2 ), some researchers argue that gender perspectives in the Arctic research on climate change impacts on peoples’ health are very seldom represented ( 3 – 7 ). This article shows how the issues of climate and environment change, human health and gender are addressed in current research in the Arctic.…”