The Traditional Cree Lifestyle: Assessing the Risks and Benefits of Traditional On-the-Land Activities in a Modern Environment

The Cree First Peoples of subarctic Canada rely on the environment as a source of sustenance and cultural wellness; however, unique health and well-being issues face First Peoples who engage in on-the-land activities in the modern world. Consequently, this dissertation critically assessed the risks and benefits of on-the-land activities for Ontario and Quebec’s James Bay Cree First Peoples. Industrial development in the eastern James Bay region of Quebec was associated with the self-reported worry about pollution of the Cree homelands. Further, the self-reported worry about pollution was associated with behavioural changes in water consumption, that is, increased spring water consumption in the bush and decreased water consumption in the communities, but not with days spent on the land. Additionally, industrial development in the eastern James Bay region and exposure to methylmercury in adults from medium and large-sized predatory fish consumption was associated with increased blood-mercury concentrations. Land-use development, classified as high-intensity, yielded significant spatial cluster “hot spot” clustering of fish tissue methylmercury and a higher probability of harvesting a fish with increased methylmercury concentrations. In light of these changes to the land in the eastern James Bay region, the health measures of Cree First Peoples eligible for participation in the Income Security Program – the longest-running on-the-land program in the world – were assessed. Cree First Peoples eligible to participate had increased omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in the blood from fish consumption, but blood-mercury concentrations were similar to the comparison group of those ineligible to participate. Lastly, black carbon mass concentrations from wood smoke resulting from traditional cultural activities in the western James Bay region of Ontario were periodically elevated in the hunting cabins, and especially the smoking tents at baseline. Black carbon mass concentrations in the hunting cabins were negligible after a wood smoke mitigation intervention using propane-fueled sources of heat. The results of this dissertation have been, and will be, used to inform on-the-land activities and programs to maximize benefits and minimize risks for the Cree First Peoples in James Bay. Les Premières Nations Cries du Canada subarctique dépendent de la terre et de l'eau comme source de subsistance et de bien-être culturel. Cependant, les Premières Nations qui pratiquent des activités traditionnelles dans le monde moderne sont confrontées à des problèmes de santé et de bien-être uniques. Par conséquent, cette thèse a évalué de façon critique les risques et les avantages des activités traditionnelles pour les Premières Nations Cries de la Baie-James de l'Ontario et du Québec. Le développement industriel dans l'est de la région de la Baie-James au Québec a été associé à l'inquiétude auto-déclarée concernant la pollution des terres des Cris. De plus, l'inquiétude auto-déclarée concernant la pollution était associée à des changements de comportement en matière de consommation d'eau, c’est-à-dire à une augmentation de la consommation d'eau de source dans la brousse et à une diminution de la consommation d'eau dans les communautés, mais pas aux jours passés sur la terre. De plus, le développement industriel dans la région de l'est de la Baie-James et l'exposition au méthylmercure des adultes par la consommation de poissons prédateurs de taille moyenne et grande étaient associés à une augmentation des concentrations de mercure dans le sang. Le développement du territoire, classé comme étant de haute intensité, a donné desPh.D