2014-2019 Contaminant Biomonitoring

Country food consumption (locally harvested foods) is associated with healthy nutrition; however, these foods can also pose potential risks via exposure to contaminants, such as mercury and cadmium, which can be naturally presented in the environment. Elevated mercury concentrations in some fish samples in the Northwest Territories have resulted in a series of food consumption notice emitted by the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Department to suggested people to limit their consumption of walleye, northern pike, and lake trout from specific lakes. Also, a consumption notice has also been placed on the kidneys and liver of moose from some parts of the Northwest Territories. However, it is important to keep in mind that traditional food consumption is associated with high intake of vitamins and essential nutrients and has a cultural significance in the region.

biomonitoring

Therefore, a multi-year study has been proposed within the Dehcho, Sahtú and Hay River regions in order to investigate the current levels of contaminant exposure among participating communities. This work, funded by the Northern Contaminants Program, will result in a strategy to promote the use of country foods in order to improve nutrition while reducing contaminant exposure. We consulted communities’ leaders through emails, phone calls and in-person meetings. When the community leaders and members were interested in the project, the research team came back for one week and proceed to the collect of hair, urine and blood to measure metals (mercury, cadmium, uranium, etc.), organic pollutants (pesticides, flame retardants, etc.) as well as nutrients (selenium, omega-3). We also invited participants to complete two food surveys and one health message awareness and perception survey, supported by local coordinators. In Sahtu, the project was completed in three communities: Tulit’a, Délı̨nę, K’asho Got’ine (February 2017- March 2018). Participants will receive their own results before March 2019, and the research team will be in the region to report the results during public meetings.

Cross Cultural Camp 2016 Terrence Hiroki Pierrot

Mutual understanding between different languages (Slavey, English, French), different cultures (Dene, other), and different types of knowledge (on the land, academic) is potentially a challenge. In addition, making the findings relevant and culturally appropriate for the region was essential to the project. Therefore, terminology workshops were organized with small groups in Tulit’a and Délı̨nę to discuss concepts and establish a common understanding of the topics. The output of this dialogue and the translated terms can be shared by the SRRB.

Consent station

Team Members

Brian Laird, Principal Investigator, University of Waterloo
Mylène Ratelle, Academic Researcher, University of Waterloo
Kelly Skinner, Academic Researcher, University of Waterloo
Danielle Brandow, Academic Researcher, University of Waterloo
Deborah Simmons, Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı
Délı̨nę Renewable Resources Council
Fort Good Hope Renewable Resources Council
Tulit'a Renewable Resources Council
Michael Neyelle, Interpreter, Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı
Leon Andrew, Interpreter, Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı
Walter Bayha, Interpreter, Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı
Camilla Rabisca, Local coordinator, K’asho Got’ine
Stella Rabisca, Local coordinator, K’asho Got’ine
Stella Bayha-Yallee, Local coordinator, Tulit’a
Tracy Yakeleya, Local coordinator, Tulit’a
Ruby Baton-Beyonnie, Local coordinator, Délı̨nę
Dora Blondin, Local coordinator, Délı̨nę
Rita Baton, Local coordinator, Délı̨nę
Dakota Erutse, Regional Coordinator, Sahtú Secretariat Inc.

Funding and Support

Funding for this work was provided by the Northern Contaminants Program, which is jointly supported by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and Health Canada (>95% of the funds). Additional support was received from Global Water Futures , Northern Scientific Training Program, the University of Waterloo, and the Population Biomonitoring Section of Health Canada. The research team is grateful for the assistance from the following organizations in the Sahtú Region: The Government of Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services; the Sahtú Renewable Resources Board; the Sahtú Secretariat Incorporated; the Sahtú Health and Social Service Authority. This work represents an ongoing collaboration between researchers at the University of Waterloo (Brian Laird, Heidi Swanson, Mylène Ratelle, Kelly Skinner, Rhona Hanning, Shannon Majowicz, Ken D. Stark), Trent University (Chris Furgal), University of Montréal (Michèle Bouchard), the Washington State University (Amanda Boyd), the Dehcho Aboriginal Aquatic Resources and Ocean Management (George Low), and the Sahtú Renewable Resources Board (Deborah Simmons).

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Budget

Northern Contaminants Program 2014-2015/Simmons: $41,866
Northern Contaminants Program 2015-2019/Laird: $330,000
Health Canada 2016-2018/Laird: $14,000

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