Abstract
The harvesting of game birds, such as grouse, with small arms using lead ammunition continues to be common practice in Alberta, Canada. Grouse are routinely consumed as a subsistence traditional fo...
Highlights
Traditional foods are an integral component of good health among Canada’s First Nations
If the grouse muscle is not impacted by ammunition, for example, if the ammunition enters the head as opposed to the body of the grouse, the breast meat will not be affected by the metals found in ammunition and adults may continue to consume non-impacted grouse muscle in amounts that exceed reported consumption rates in the FNFNES
The findings of this paper suggest that the consumption of meat impacted by lead shot should be limited and the use of non-toxic alternatives, such as steel or copper ammunition, should be considered as substitutes, when non-toxic alternatives have been demonstrated to be as effective as conventional lead ammunition in terms of ballistics and kill effectiveness (Ponder, 2014; Trinogga et al, 2013)
Summary
Traditional foods are an integral component of good health among Canada’s First Nations. Commercial foods are comparatively expensive and not always as nutrient-dense as traditional foods any decrease in traditional food consumption can have a negative effect on the diet, and nutritional status, of First Nations communities. Through the use of snares and small arms, small game can be harvested at more locations, as these species have more general habitat requirements and smaller home ranges than larger game. Grouse, both ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and spruce grouse (Falcipennis canadensis), are important sources of protein and are some of the more popular traditional foods consumed among First Nation members in Alberta, Canada (Chan et al, 2016)
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