Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik
The harvest and consumption of country food is a cornerstone of Inuit culture, sovereignty, food security, and nutrition. Qilalugaq (beluga whales) (Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) are hunted across the Canadian Arctic and are an especially important food source for Inuit communities in Nunavi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Arctic Science |
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| Online Access: | https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2022-0039 |
| _version_ | 1827854544851173376 |
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| author | Matthew Little Nicole Winters Adel Achouba Adriano Magesky Pierre Ayotte Tommy Palliser Angus Naylor Willie Jararuse Mélanie Lemire |
| author_facet | Matthew Little Nicole Winters Adel Achouba Adriano Magesky Pierre Ayotte Tommy Palliser Angus Naylor Willie Jararuse Mélanie Lemire |
| author_sort | Matthew Little |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The harvest and consumption of country food is a cornerstone of Inuit culture, sovereignty, food security, and nutrition. Qilalugaq (beluga whales) (Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) are hunted across the Canadian Arctic and are an especially important food source for Inuit communities in Nunavik, northern Québec, Canada. The presence of environmental contaminants and nutrients in beluga has been the subject of recent research interest, including the role of selenoneine and its interactions with methylmercury. Using interviews conducted in Quaqtaq and analyses of beluga tissue samples harvested by hunters, this study aimed to bridge Inuit knowledge and scientific knowledge to understand how beluga hunting, preparation, and consumption practices may explain the different levels of selenoneine found in Nunavimmiut (Inuit from Nunavik). It also sought to characterize the health, social, and cultural importance of beluga and factors influencing its consumption. Research findings confirmed the important role of beluga in Nunavimmiut culture, food security, and nutrition. Findings documented gender-based consumption practices, including consumption of the selenoneine-rich beluga tail exclusively by women, which may explain previously documented gender differences in blood selenoneine levels. This study demonstrates the utility of weaving Inuit knowledge and scientific knowledge to inform future environmental health research, public health communications, and wildlife comanagement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:24:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b55b30470a8c4b37adb1720ca6b3d974 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2368-7460 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:24:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arctic Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-b55b30470a8c4b37adb1720ca6b3d9742023-09-01T13:03:34ZengCanadian Science PublishingArctic Science2368-74602023-09-019361663410.1139/as-2022-0039Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, NunavikMatthew Little0Nicole Winters1Adel Achouba2Adriano Magesky3Pierre Ayotte4Tommy Palliser5Angus Naylor6Willie Jararuse7Mélanie Lemire8School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, CanadaDepartment of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, CanadaCentre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Québec, QC, CanadaCentre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Québec, QC, CanadaCentre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Québec, QC, CanadaNunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board, Inukjuaq, QC, CanadaSchool of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, CanadaNorthern Village of Quaqtaq, QC, CanadaAxe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en Santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec, QC, CanadaThe harvest and consumption of country food is a cornerstone of Inuit culture, sovereignty, food security, and nutrition. Qilalugaq (beluga whales) (Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) are hunted across the Canadian Arctic and are an especially important food source for Inuit communities in Nunavik, northern Québec, Canada. The presence of environmental contaminants and nutrients in beluga has been the subject of recent research interest, including the role of selenoneine and its interactions with methylmercury. Using interviews conducted in Quaqtaq and analyses of beluga tissue samples harvested by hunters, this study aimed to bridge Inuit knowledge and scientific knowledge to understand how beluga hunting, preparation, and consumption practices may explain the different levels of selenoneine found in Nunavimmiut (Inuit from Nunavik). It also sought to characterize the health, social, and cultural importance of beluga and factors influencing its consumption. Research findings confirmed the important role of beluga in Nunavimmiut culture, food security, and nutrition. Findings documented gender-based consumption practices, including consumption of the selenoneine-rich beluga tail exclusively by women, which may explain previously documented gender differences in blood selenoneine levels. This study demonstrates the utility of weaving Inuit knowledge and scientific knowledge to inform future environmental health research, public health communications, and wildlife comanagement.https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2022-0039beluga whaleNunavikInuittraditional knowledgeselenoneinefood security |
| spellingShingle | Matthew Little Nicole Winters Adel Achouba Adriano Magesky Pierre Ayotte Tommy Palliser Angus Naylor Willie Jararuse Mélanie Lemire Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik Arctic Science beluga whale Nunavik Inuit traditional knowledge selenoneine food security |
| title | Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
| title_full | Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
| title_fullStr | Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
| title_full_unstemmed | Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
| title_short | Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
| title_sort | weaving together inuit knowledge and western science a mixed methods case study of qilalugaq beluga whale in quaqtaq nunavik |
| topic | beluga whale Nunavik Inuit traditional knowledge selenoneine food security |
| url | https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2022-0039 |
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