Abstract

This research project is exploratory, utilising a qualitative approach to identify environmental and climate changes in the Nain, Labrador region and the effects of these changes by accessing the local knowledge of resident women. The objective of the research was to identify the implications of these changes to health. Field work carried out over the months of September and October of 2002 in the community of Nain via semi-directed interviews and participant observation revealed that (1) important representations of health for participants are getting out onto the land and consuming traditional foods; (2) their collective observations of change support the conclusion that the climate in their region is changing and; (3) these changes are affecting the women and others in the community in a number of ways. Interpretation of this last conclusion was informed both by the application of the population health model as well as what was learned in terms of local determinants of health. The action of five determinants at a general level and two at a local level was found to be influenced by the reported environmental changes and these are: the physical environment, income and social status, personal health practices and coping skills, food security, culture, going-off on the land and eating wild foods.

This study identifies a number of ways in which informant reported environmental and climate changes may currently be adversely influencing health status among Labrador Inuit.