Presenter: Sennait Yohannes & Selina Kisa NAHO 2009 National Conference

1. Elder Stories as a Pilot DVD
Intervention in an Inuit
Community
Presenter: Sennait Yohannes & Selina Kisa
NAHO conference
November 24, 2009

2. Outline
•Introduction
•Inuit Food systems
•Transitions
•Background
•Pangnirtung
•Pilot DVD intervention
•Analysis
•Results

3. Inuit Food Systems
• Important to facilitate social, cultural,
Introduction spiritual ties
•Inuit Food • >100 different species of animals and
systems plants
•Transitions • Initially noted for its health benefits 1
Background
•Pangnirtung
Study Design
•DVD course
Analysis
1. Bang and Dyerberg, 1972

4. Nutrient Value of Country
Food
Introduction Rich in
•Inuit Food • Omega 3
systems
•Transitions • Antioxidants
Background • Protein
•Pangnirtung
• Vitamin A
Study Design
•DVD course • Vitamin D
Analysis

5. Transitions
Globalization Climate change
Acculturation
Nutrition transition
Chronic Disease

6. Invitation to Pangnirtung
•Invited members
of CINE
•Steering
committee
•Consultations
•Community plan

7. Pangnirtung
Introduction
•Inuit Food
systems
•Transitions
Background
•Pangnirtung
Study Design
•DVD course
Analysis

8. Initial Activities
Introduction
•Inuit Food
systems 1) Adult health screening-2005
•Transitions
Background 2) Youth health survey-2006
•Pangnirtung
Study Design
3) Elder knowledge/story telling
•DVD course
Analysis

9. Diet Quality-Youth
•49% consumed country
Introduction
food the day before
•Inuit Food
systems •98% had drank soft drinks
•Transitions
Background
the day before
•Pangnirtung
Study Design •2.5 cans
•DVD course
Analysis •1/3 youth
overweight

10. Youth Project:
Construct a pilot DVD intervention based on
elder stories to share traditional food
knowledge among community youth.
1. To determine if the stories are a feasible
way to transfer traditional knowledge to
youth.
2. To determine attitudes and beliefs about
traditional foods among youth.

11. Inuit Quajimajatuqangit (IQ)
“Practical common sense; teachings and
experience passed through generations;
knowing the country; being rooted in
spiritual health; a way of life; an authority
system of rules for resource use; respect;
obligation to share; wisdom in using
knowledge; using heart and head
together.”
Berkes, 1999

12. Story Telling
•Story telling has been a traditional way
for Inuit to share knowledge.
Introduction
•Inuit Food •21 local elders were interviewed about
systems country foods and traditional ways of life.
•Transitions
Background •5 elders were used for the pilot DVD
•Pangnirtung
•Shared similar themes
Study Design
•DVD course‟
Analysis

13. DVD Design
Theme 1 Theme 2 Theme 3
What women ate Land and Country Food
and what men ate Ocean Plants Remedies
Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3
Pilot DVD

14. Pilot DVD
•Each segment is composed of 5
Introduction different elder interviews.
•Inuit Food
systems •Continuous story
•Transitions •Medium youth are comfortable
Background
•Pangnirtung with.
Study Design •Maximizes the information.
•DVD
•Visual portion
‘course’
Analysis •Community pictures

15. Evaluation
• A pre & post DVD questionnaire was
composed
Introduction – 28 T/F questions
•Inuit Food • Paired and independent t-tests
systems
– 4 open ended questions
•Transitions
Background • What did you like about the DVD?
•Pangnirtung • How would you change the DVD?
Study Design • How do you feel about learning Traditional
•DVD „course‟ Knowledge from the elders?
Analysis • What would make it easier for you to eat
more Country Food?
– Content analysis

16. Timeline
•Local high school over two weeks
Introduction
•Inuit Food •Week 1
systems
•Transitions
•Pre-Questionnaire
Background •1rst and 2nd DVD segment
•Pangnirtung
Study Design •Week 2
•DVD „course‟
Analysis •3rd DVD segment
•Post Questionnaire

17. Quantitative Analysis

18. Qualitative Analysis

19. Attitudes and Beliefs
•Country Food Traditions
•Learning from elders
•Learning traditional knowledge from
elders
•Health Benefits of traditional food
•Increasing traditional food availability

20. Policy
Inuit culture and perspective needs to
be considered for effective health
promotion.
•Ties youth to local elders.
•Promotes country food and
traditional knowledge.
•Promotes Inuit identity.

21. Acknowledgements
PANGNIRTUNG
•Community Steering Committee
CINE/McGill
•Dr. Grace Egeland
•Dr. Harriet Kuhnlein
•Dr. Grace Marquis
AGENCIES
•ITK-Looee Okalik
Funders
•Nasivvik ACADRE
•Old Sun Fellowship

22. Questions/Discussion
How can traditional knowledge be used by and
incorporated in health promotion and by front line
healthcare workers?
Qujanamiik