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Editor's Notes

• #3: -The conceptualization of nutritional solely within a biomedical framework is problematic because it excludes the socio-historical events which help to shape current dietary guidelines -Using historical accounts from doctors, researchers, government and the private sector, this presentation will outline the process of Inuit dietary transition in the Eastern Arctic during 1935-1959
• #5: -Historically, Inuit ate a very low carbohydrate diet, consuming minimal amounts of carbohydrates from the glycogen of blood and raw meat, and in the summers, from plants and berries -Historical estimates from Dr. Rabinowitch in the 1930s suggest that less than 10% of Inuit diet comprised of carbohydrates
• #6: -Health Canada ’ s nutritional guideline for aboriginal people mandates that consuming a balanced diet from four main food groups -The “ four food group ” approach to Inuit nutrition is incongruent with traditional Inuit dietary practices, as Inuit traditionally ate a diet comprising mainly of protein and fat -the current version of Canada ’ s Aboriginal food guide suggests that Inuit should consume between 45-65% of their daily calories from carbohydrates
• #7: -So how did this happen? What’s responsible for this change? -I will examine four main themes: profit motive, control, fear of dependency & climate
• #8: -The role of the Hudson ’ s Bay Company, a company operating in northern Canada to profit from the fur trade, played a large role in reshaping Inuit dietary practices -The high price of Arctic fox furs in the 1930s and 1940s made recruitment of Inuit hunters paramount to the economic success of the Hudson ’ s Bay Company -Inuit would receive credit from the HBC to trade fox for goods, creating a social environment where Inuit became increasingly economically dependent for articles of trade -Among the most popular items traded included wool clothing, rifles, ammunition, steel, fishing nets, and western food -However, the recruitment of Inuit hunters disrupted Inuit way of life, people were hunting commodities and for the first time, participating in a market-based system- leaving less time to hunt for food
• #9: -From Dr. Pett -Read quote -When the top hunters of Inuit groups were recruited to participate in the fox trade industry this left little time for them to hunt for traditional foods and contributed to Inuit reliance on western foods
• #10: -Dr. Rabinowitch reports that Inuit health was shaped by forces motivated by profit, giving little regard to Inuit health and well-being -Read quote -Dr. Rabinowitch ’ s comments suggest that the HBC only considered Inuit health when it interfered with the profits of the fur trade
• #11: -The Hudson ’ s Bay Company was primarily concerned with the short term health of Inuit, only addressing sickness or death when an Inuk would no longer be able to traps furs -Read quote
• #12: -However, in 1949 the role of Inuit in the fur trade changed drastically -The price of fox pelts plummeted from $25/pelt to $3.50/pelt -the fall of the fur trade placed the HBC in a precarious position, as the fur trade was the HBC’s main source of income -Now with no longer a means to earn HBC credits, Inuit became reliant on government aid for food and ultimately survival
• #13: -In 1944 the Canadian government introduced the Family Allowances system to administer monetary support to all Canadian families - The Arctic was a difficult & costly place for the Canadian government to establish, so the government partnered with the Company to manage Inuit family allowances
• #14: -Family allowances were supposed to be allocated at regular intervals in the form of cheques -Inuit were not issued cheques, but instead given credits to the Hudson ’ s Bay Company, restricting Inuit choice of how or when to spend their credits -The HBC stores were profit-making entities, driven by economic incentives. It wasn’t their responsibility to ensure that “healthy and nutritious” food was available to Inuit -The Canadian government had a list of specific foods that could be covered by family allowances, however, it was up to the discretion of the HBC regarding what should be stocked -Flour-based and carbohydrate-heavy goods provided the largest economic return for the HBC
• #15: -The role of the HBC in administering food gave the HBC post keepers control over Inuit, coercing Inuit to purchase certain items advised by the Company traders
• #16: -family allowances were used as collateral -Read quote -Historical government documents from the late 1940s illustrate that only $1000 of $200,0000 in family allowances were paid out to Inuit -documents also show their were three price lists at the HBC- one for southerners, one for Inuit and one for Inuit collecting family allowances- allowing the HBC to profit considerably from this system
• #17: -Read quote -Government saw results of the Indian act and were fearful that welfare would impact Inuit in similar way -Supporting Inuit independence was in the best interest of the government, as this would ensure cost-savings and decreased legal responsibilities -Discussions over the provision of food focused on AID, basic caloric consumption vs. nutrition -Food AID was never meant to be a sourceof primary consumption- irrelevant of the fact that corporate interest & government policies had facilitated the need for food aid & dependency in the eastern Arctic
• #18: -It is important to note that environmental factors also shaped availability and access to quality western foods -Read Quote -For these reasons, foods such as “ Canada-approved ” flour, pilot biscuits, sugar, tea, dried milk, baking powder and lard were more readily available in the arctic compared to fresh and canned food
• #19: -the control of food is more than a nutritional conversation, but one embedded in a deep and complex social, historical and cultural context- one that has implications for how we do health today