It is important to recognize that the purity of traditional foods is very important to people who live on the land. Low-level risk is not well-accepted, and the high degree of uncertainty surrounding health risk assessments has been very difficult for people in Northern communities to deal with.
The general conclusion of health professionals and community representatives is that the nutritional and social benefits of eating traditional foods outweigh the risks associated with the levels of contaminants measured in these foods.
This chart shows traditional foods that are consumed at least once a year by half or more of the Inuvialuit households of Akalvik. This example illustrates the wide range of foods consumed and their importance in the diet of Aboriginal peoples.
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