Decision-Making and Diet in the North: Balancing the Physical, Economic and Social Components

Updated 2000-06-15

Specifically, this project aims to: 1. Review and organize the reported social and cultural benefits and risks associated with a traditional diet and related activities (hunting, preparation, consumption); 2. Develop and apply a survey tool to increase our understanding of the determinants of diet behavior; 3. Develop a conceptual framework for the ordered presentation of this information; 4. Link this framework with those organizing information on health and economic benefits and risks associated with traditional foods.

This is not a National Implementation Plan (NIP) project

http://www.cspq.qc.ca

Status: Ongoing
Project time span: 1999 - 2001
Data collection: 2000 - 2001
Data processing: 2000 - 2001
Data reporting: 2001 - 2001

Contact information

Contact person: Christopher M. Furgal
Address: Public Health Research Unit CHUQ - Pavillon CHUL 2400 rue d'Estimauville Beauport, Québec GiE 7G9 Canada
Phone: +1 418 666-7000 ext 555
Fax: +1 418 666-2776
Email: ac.cq.qpsc@lagrufc

Parameters and Media

Parameter groups measured/observed/modelled

Media sampled/studied/modelled

Additional information or further specification of types of data / information collected, species / tissues / organs sampled, etc.

Quantification of determinants of diet choice among northerners, as well as organization of social and cultural benefits and risks associated with country food consumption in the Arctic Samples include interviews, surveys of Arctic populations

Geography

Regions studied: Canada, Nunavik
Other areas: Canada-Nunavik (Arctic Québec)
Stations or areas where observations are made: Nunavik - determinants of diet behaviour

Data availability

Are data archived or planned to be archived at an AMAP Thematic Data Centre?: no
If no (or only part of data are reported to a TDC), where and how are (other) data stored?: Data will be made available to AMAP through the Canadian Northern Contaminants Program publications (Dept. of Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada)

Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks?: No

Methods & Procedures

Procedures and methodology used for, e.g., sampling and sample storage, sample pretreatment, extraction and analysis, including which laboratories are involved, references to methods employed, etc.: Social research methods are employed in this study: focus groups for determinant identification, survey for assessment of quantification of determinants among northern population; literature review and content analysis will be conducted to organize and group common cultural and social benefits and risks associated with country foods in the north, decision making framework will be based on this qualitative analysis of existing data.

Additional Information

Is this a bi- AND multi-lateral project (i.e. a project involving cooperation between different countries)?: No
Is this project reporting to other organizations/programmes?: Northern Contaminants Program (INAC), SSHRC Funded project "Sustainable Development in the Arctic: Conditions for Food Security"
Indigenous AND traditional knowledge used in this project: Identification of social and cultural benefits of country foods includes consideration of traditional knowledge collected from northern populations