Inuit Men Research Articles

Ethnic differences in CT derived abdominal body composition measures: a comparative retrospect pilot study between European and Inuit study population

ABSTRACT Understanding ethnic variations in body composition is crucial for assessing health risks. Universal models may not suit all ethnicities, and there is limited data on the Inuit population. This study aimed to compare body composition between Inuit and European adults using computed tomography (CT) scans and to investigate the influence of demographics on these measurements. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 50 adults (29 Inuit and 21 European) who underwent standard trauma CT scans. Measurements focused on skeletal muscle index (SMI), various fat indices, and densities at the third lumbar vertebra level, analyzed using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test and multiple linear regression. Inuit women showed larger fat tissue indices and lower muscle and fat densities than European women. Differences in men were less pronouncehd, with only Intramuscular fat density being lower among Inuit men. Regression indicated that SMI was higher among men, and skeletal muscle density decreased with Inuit ethnicity and age, while visceral fat index was positively associated with age. This study suggests ethnic differences in body composition measures particularly among women, and indicates the need for Inuit-specific body composition models. It higlights the importance of further research into Inuit-specific body composition measurements for better health risk assessment.

Countering colonial nostalgia and heroic masculinity in the age of accelerated climate change: The Arctic artworks of Katja Aglert and Isaac Julien

This article explores two screen-based artworks: Katja Aglert’s Winter Event – Antifreeze (2009–18) and Isaac Julien’s True North (2004) respectively, that exemplify diverse viewpoints contesting the essentialized identities of the Arctic past. These artworks recover the histories of women, the Inuit and African American men’s involvement in polar exploration, reimagining heroic narratives from historically excluded or ignored perspectives. By employing irony and humour, these artworks expand our understanding of how media-based art can respond to the ironies of a warming planet and challenge colonial nostalgia for White male heroism. The artworks traverse not just the human imperialism of the colonial era but also the newer imperialism in the age of the Anthropocene and the Capitalocene, decentring the mythic and exotic qualities of expedition narratives. Ultimately, the irreverent artwork encourages us to rethink an aesthetics of the distanced sublime from Romantic aesthetics and its roots in European Universalism, promoting a more inclusive and intersectional approach to the Arctic and its representation.

Muscular strength, mobility in daily life and mental wellbeing among older adult Inuit in Greenland. The Greenland population health survey 2018

ABSTRACT The purpose was to analyse the association of muscular strength, muscle pain and reduced mobility in daily life with mental wellbeing among older Inuit men and women in Greenland. Data (N = 846) was collected as part of a countrywide cross-sectional health survey in 2018. Hand grip strength and 30-seconds chair stand test were measured according to established protocols. Mobility in daily life was assessed by five questions about the ability to perform specific activities of daily living. Mental wellbeing was assessed by questions about self-rated health, life satisfaction and Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire. In binary multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for age and social position, muscular strength (OR 0.87–0.94) and muscle pain (OR 1.53–1.79) were associated with reduced mobility. In fully adjusted models, muscle pain (OR 0.68–0.83) and reduced mobility (OR 0.51–0.55) but were associated with mental wellbeing. Chair stand score was associated with life satisfaction (OR 1.05). With an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, increasing prevalence of obesity and increasing life expectancy the health consequences of musculoskeletal dysfunction are expected to grow. Prevention and clinical handling of poor mental health among older adults need to consider reduced muscle strength, muscle pain and reduced mobility as important determinants.

Suicide amongst young Inuit males: The perspectives of Inuit health and wellness workers in Nunavik

The rate of suicide amongst Inuit boys and men in Nunavik has risen since the 1980s. Despite this, little is known about the strengths and protective factors, and the unique risks, that contribute to suicidality amongst Inuit males. This article presents the findings of a qualitative interview study conducted with Inuit health and wellness workers in Nunavik to better understand the gendered nature of suicide for young Inuit males. Discussed within a critical masculinities framework, findings highlight the need to consider the gendered nature of intergenerational trauma, the changing nature of the Northern economy and its impact on gender dynamics, and the inequities that some men face within institutional structures. Also offered are culturally meaningful and strength-based strategies for attracting and engaging young males to mental health services. Findings provide important insights into the social determinants of Inuit males' mental health, and advocate for targeted suicide prevention programs for Inuit boys and young men.

Skill Mismatch of Indigenous Peoples in Canada: Findings from PIAAC

In the Canadian sample of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, lower scores within occupation groups are more common among Indigenous individuals (not living on reserves) than for non-Indigenous individuals. This may be interpreted as evidence of what economists call under-skilling, with no implications regarding current job performance, but which has been associated with increased vulnerability to job loss during economic downturns. Estimated under-skilling rates are higher for English or French literacy among First Nations men, for numeracy among First Nations women, and for both proficiency domains among Inuit women and men. Over-skilling is primarily associated with inefficient use of labour resources and reduced welfare. Controlling for demographic characteristics, we find no consistent statistically significant evidence that the odds of being over-skilled—that is, of having higher scores than those within the same occupation group—are different for Indigenous individuals compared with non-Indigenous individuals. In estimated wage equations, wage differences shrink when our over-skilling and under-skilling estimates are added to the controls, but First Nations differences remain negative and significant, particularly for men.

Indigenous Fathering and Wellbeing: Kinship and Decolonial Approaches to Health Research

In the past decade, Canadian statistics indicate that fathering nurtures family wellbeing which ultimately fosters community growth. The wellbeing of Indigenous men, shaped by determinants of health and culture-based perspectives, is challenged by ongoing settler colonialism. In particular to Indigenous men living with children in their homes, less is known about their strengths as nurturers. For the purpose of this study, based on Indigenist, decolonizing theories, 'father' is not conceived as the head of household. An alternative to the heteropatriarchal model is the kinship orientation of Indigenous fathering and as such, father refers to uncle, grandfather, traditional Clan leader, adoptive parent, and so on. This study's secondary quantitative analysis compared health and social characteristics of three cohorts of Indigenous adult men who identify as residing with children. Based on an extracted subset of variables from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey, results showed many significance comparisons among First Nations, Metis and Inuit men. Across health and social domains, multiple and decolonial supports are needed for Indigenous fathering to flourish.

A Systematic Review of Musculoskeletal Fitness Among Indigenous Populations in North America and Circumpolar Inuit Populations.

North American indigenous populations experience higher rates of obesity and chronic disease compared with nonindigenous populations. Improvements in musculoskeletal fitness can mitigate negative health outcomes, but is not well understood among indigenous populations. This review examines musculoskeletal fitness measures among North American indigenous populations. A total of 1632 citations were evaluated and 18 studies were included. Comparisons of musculoskeletal fitness measures between North American indigenous men and boys and women and girls were generally not reported. The greatest left and right combined maximal grip strength and maximal leg strength among Inuit boys and men and girls and women were observed among 20-29 years age group. Maximal combined right and left grip strength declined from 1970 to 1990, by an average of 15% among adults and 10% among youth. Maximal leg extension among Inuit has declined even further, averaging 38% among adults and 27% among youth from 1970 to 1990. Inuit men demonstrate greater grip strength and lower leg strength than Russian indigenous men, whereas Inuit women demonstrate greater leg strength. Further research is needed to better understand physical fitness among indigenous peoples and the potential for improving health and reducing chronic disease risk for indigenous peoples through physical fitness.

Prevalence of unexplained anaemia in Inuit men and Inuit post-menopausal women in Northern Labrador: International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey.

To identify correlates of hemoglobin (Hb) and anaemia unexplained by iron deficiency (UA) in Canadian Inuit adults. A cross-sectional survey assessed diet, demographic information, anthropometry, fasting Hb, ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (on a subset), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in serum, red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid composition, blood lead, and antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in non-pregnant, Inuit adults (n = 2550), ≥18 years of age from randomly selected households in 36 Inuit communities in Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut Territory and Nunatsiavut of Northern Labrador, Canada. Hb concentrations were lower and UA prevalence higher in Inuit men after 50 years of age. Rate of anaemia was constant among Inuit women but changed from primarily iron deficiency anaemia pre-menopause, to primarily UA in post-menopause. Low education levels and hs-CRP were associated with increased risk of UA. For Inuit men, % RBC eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and elevated blood lead were also associated with increased risk of UA. Frequency of traditional food intake was positively associated with Hb. Age patterns and regional variation of anaemia suggest that ethnicity-related physiological differences cannot explain anaemia prevalence for Inuit. High RBC EPA status, inflammation and infections, and lower education levels may contribute to the prevalence of anaemia in this population, which is not related to iron status. Thus, traditional lifestyle may protect Inuit from nutritional anaemia but contribute to lower Hb through environmental exposures. The clinical significance of UA for older Inuit adults requires further investigation, as the prevalence represents a moderate public health problem.

A retrospective review of cancer treatments and outcomes among Inuit referred from Nunavut, Canada.

Cancer is a health concern in Inuit populations. Unique cultural, dietary, and genetic factors and geographic isolation influence cancer epidemiology in this group. Inuit-specific data about oncology treatments and survival outcomes in Canadian Inuit referred to urban treatment centres are lacking. A retrospective chart review of Inuit patients referred to The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre (tohcc) from the Baffin region of Nunavut between 2000 and 2010 was conducted. Nunavut cancer registry data were used to establish the percentage of cancer cases referred and their survival outcomes. Of 307 cancer patients registered among Baffin-region Inuit, 216 [70% (63 men, 153 women)] were referred to tohcc for chemotherapy (ct) and radiation therapy (rt). Mean age in the referred group was 59.3 years (range: 25-89 years), and current smokers constituted half the group (52%). The cancers most commonly leading to referral in men were lung (55%), colorectal (19%), and nasopharyngeal (11%) cancers; in women, they were lung (46%), colorectal (24%), breast (10%), nasopharyngeal (6%), and cervical (5%) cancers. Of the 216 referred patients, 82 (38%) had already undergone surgery, and 18 (8%) received chemoradiation or rt only, all given with curative intent. Among the surgical patients referred, 33 (40%) and 23 (28%) went on to receive adjuvant ct and adjuvant rt respectively. Among 116 patients referred for palliative care, 64 (55%) received ct, 76 (66%) received rt, 43 (37%) received both ct and rt, and 19 (16%) received neither treatment. Median all-stage overall survival was 10 months for patients with lung cancer [95% confidence interval: 6.1 to 13.9 months] and 37 months for patients with colorectal cancer [95% confidence interval: 14.8 to 59.2 months]. High uptake of palliative and adjuvant ct and rt was observed in the Inuit patients referred to tohcc. Lung cancer was the most common cancer in referred Inuit men and women. The survival rates for Inuit lung cancer patients referred to tohcc were comparable to those in the rest of Canada. Further research is required to understand reasons for non-referral of Canadian Inuit to tohcc.

Cadmium may impair prostate function as measured by prostate specific antigen in semen: A cross-sectional study among European and Inuit men.

We investigated the association between cadmium in blood and the concentration of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) in semen, including the modifying effects of zinc or the CAG polymorphism in the androgen receptor (AR). Blood and semen samples were collected from 504 partners of pregnant women in Greenland, Poland and Ukraine. We found an inverse trend between cadmium and PSA (log(β) = -0.121, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.213; -0.029, P = 0.0103) in Greenlandic men. Similar results were observed in men with a high number of CAG repeats (CAG 24) (log(β) = -0.231, 95% CI: -0.363; -0.098, P = 0.0009). Inverse trends between cadmium and PSA were found when semen zinc concentrations were below the median value for men from Ukraine and Greenland. These outcomes suggest that cadmium may impair prostate function, as measured by PSA in semen, while high zinc levels and a low number of CAG repeats protects against this action.

Ethnicity is important for creatinine excretion among Inuit and Caucasians in Greenland

Background. Human nutrition, contamination and renal function are commonly assessed by the analysis of urine. A complete 24-hour urine sample is the ideal but it is inconvenient and unreliable. Thus, spot urine sampling with creatinine adjustment is widely used. Stratification for age and gender is recommended. Still, ethnicity may influence creatinine excretion. Methods. We collected 104 24-h urine samples among Inuit and non-Inuit living in Greenland. Completeness of sampling was checked by using para-amino benzoic acid (PABA) that also allowed for compensation of creatinine excretion when sampling was incomplete. We measured creatinine using the Jaffe method and PABA by the HPLC method. Results. Participants were recruited from the capital city, a major town and a settlement (n = 36/48/20). They were aged 30–69 years with 78 Inuit and 26 non-Inuit. Inuit were smaller than non-Inuit (Caucasians): height, 163 vs. 177 cm, p < 0.001; weight, 71 vs. 84 kg, p = 0.001 with similar BMI. Creatinine excretion was lower in Inuit compared to non-Inuit (men, 1344/1807 mg/24 h; women 894/1259 mg/24 h; p = 0.002; 0.02). It was influenced by age (p < 0.001), gender (p < 0.001), weight (p = 0.001) and ethnicity (p = 0.030) while not by the intake of the protein-rich Inuit diet in the adjusted analysis. Creatinine excretion was described by: Inuit men, 1925 mg – (13.1 × age); Inuit women, 1701 mg – (17.0 × age). Conclusion. Inuit and Caucasians have different creatinine excretion. It is recommended to stratify by ethnicity in addition to adjustment for age and gender when using creatinine correction of spot urine samples.

Household crowding and psychosocial health among Inuit in Greenland.

Poor housing conditions experienced by many Indigenous peoples threaten their health and well-being. This study examines whether household crowding is associated with poorer psychosocial health among Greenlanders, and the mediating role of social support. It also assesses whether Inuit men and women are differently influenced by their housing conditions. Data on more than 3,000 Inuit aged 18years and older are from the Inuit health in transition Greenland survey. Associations between household crowding and composition, and mental well-being and binge drinking were examined using logistic regression models, adjusting for individuals' characteristics. Household crowding was associated with poorer mental well-being. Binge drinking was more common among people living in households without children. These effects were more important for women than for men. The association between household crowding and mental well-being was significantly mediated by social support. This suggests that having a strong social network may buffer the deleterious impacts of household crowding. Targeting housing conditions and fostering social support as part of population health interventions might contribute to improving psychosocial health and well-being in Greenland.

Forty-five year trends in overweight and obesity in an indigenous arctic Inuit Society in transition and spatiotemporal trends.

Overweight and obesity associate with increased morbidity and premature death. Westernization of societies heralds rising obesity rates. A steep increase in body mass index (BMI) and overweight in Greenland from 1963 to 1998 led us to follow-up on height, weight, BMI, and rates of overweight among populations in Greenland and assess time trends between different stages of transition. BMI was calculated from height and weight measured on Inuit and non-Inuit aged 50 through 69 years surveyed in 1963, 1998, and 2008 in Ammassalik district in East Greenland and in 1998 and 2008 in the capital Nuuk in West Greenland. A total of 1,186 were surveyed in 1963 (52 men/63 women), 1998 (309/226), and 2008 (297/239). BMI increased with time (P < 0.001; 1963/1998/2008 23.3/24.3/26.2 kg/m(2) ). In addition, BMI increased with urbanization in Inuit men (P = 0.001; settlements/town/city, in 1998, 23.9/24.9/25.5 kg/m(2) ; in 2008, 25.0/26.0/27.0 kg/m(2) ) while not in Inuit women (P = 0.18). The number of overweight Inuit (BMI >27 kg/m(2) ) increased with time in men (4.0/25.6/33.2% in 1963/1998/2008, P = 0.001) and in women (13.6/30.7/37.3%, P = 0.001). BMI was above 30 kg/m(2) in 2.0/10.8/17.5% of all Inuit men in 1963/1998/2008 (P = 0.003) and in 8.3%/23.0/24.5% of all Inuit women (P = 0.02) respectively. Overweight and obesity rates rise with time and with societal transition in Greenland. Settlements and town are catching up with the city where the rate of increase is diminishing, although there were gender differences.

Serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and a polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) in men from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine

Many brominated flame retardants (BFRs)—including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)—have been shown to persist in the environment, and some have been associated with adverse health effects. The aim of the present study was to quantify serum concentrations of common brominated flame retardants in Inuit men from across Greenland, and in men from Warsaw, Poland and Kharkiv, Ukraine. Serum was sampled between 2002 and 2004 from men 19 to 50years of age. 299 samples were analyzed for BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183 and the brominated biphenyl BB-153 using gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry. BDE-47 and BDE-153 were detected in more than 95% of samples from all three populations. All other congeners, except BDE-154, were detected in more than 70% of samples from Greenland; lower detection frequencies were observed in Polish and Ukrainian samples. Concentrations of individual congeners were 2.7 to 15 fold higher in Greenlandic relative to Polish and Ukrainian men. Geometric mean concentrations of the sum of the most abundant PBDEs of the Penta-BDE commercial mixture (BDE-47, 99, 100, 153 and 154) were 6.1, 1.7 and 0.87ng/g lipids in the Greenlandic, Polish and Ukrainian men, respectively. Furthermore, significant geographical differences in BFR concentrations were observed within Greenland. Principal component analysis revealed distinct clustering of samples by country of origin. The associations between ΣPBDEs and age were inconsistent, varying from no association in Greenlandic and Polish study populations to a U-shaped relationship in Ukrainians. We report BFR levels for three populations for which sparse biomonitoring data exists.

A review of the Inuit oncology patients treated at the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre.

e17563 Background: Cancer is a major health concern among Canada’s northern Inuit population. Limited Inuit specific data exists on the geographical isolation and the effect on treatment outcomes of Inuit referred to urban hospitals for cancer treatment. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all Inuit referred to the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre from Nunavut, Canada (distance: 1298 miles) between 2001-2011 was conducted. Demographic, diagnostic and treatment related information was collected on all patients, including the number of visits made by each Inuit patient from Nunavut to OHCC for treatment. Results: 234 Inuit (male: 74, female: 160) were referred to OHCC with a diagnosis of cancer. Mean age at diagnosis was 58.5 years (sd 14.61). Over half the patients were current smokers (54%) and 39% of patients had a history of tuberculosis (TB). Among Inuit men, lung (n=32, 43%), colorectal (n=11, 14%) and nasopharyngeal (n=9, 12%) cancer were the most common diagnosis. Among Inuit women, the most common cancers were lung (n=72, 45%), colorectal (n=32, 20%), breast (n=21, 13%), cervical (n=11, 7%) and nasopharyngeal (n=7, 4%). Metastatic disease at presentation was common (n=76, 38%). Primary cancer was amenable to surgery in n=57 patients. An equivalent number of patients (n=82) received adjuvant/definitive radiation therapy (RXT) and adjuvant chemotherapy, with n=52 receiving chemoradiation. Palliative RXT and chemotherapy was received by 64 and 51 patients, respectively. Among patients receiving chemotherapy, there were no cases of TB reactivation and no treatment related serious adverse outcomes or deaths. Average number of trips made to Ottawa for treatment was n=7 (sd 7.90) with the upper quartile averaging n=10 trips. Conclusions: Lung, colorectal and nasopharyngeal cancers are over-represented among Canadian Inuit, who often present with advanced disease. Travel burden is significant among patients receiving treatment. Improved cancer screening and oral molecularly targeted therapies that can be delivered in remote northern communities are likely to improve the experience and treatment outcomes among Canadian Inuit.

Non-linear association between androgen receptor CAG and GGN repeat lengths and reproductive parameters in fertile European and Inuit men

Recently the dogma that there is an inverse linear association between androgen receptor (AR) CAG and GGN polymorphisms and receptor activity has been challenged. We analysed the pattern of association between 21 male reproductive phenotypes and AR CAG/GGN repeat lengths in 557 proven-fertile men.A linear association was only found between sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and CAG length, and between inhibin B and GGN length. Men with longer CAG then the reference (22–24), had higher oestradiol levels, whereas men with shorter CAG stretches had a higher DFI and a higher proportion of Fas-positive germ cells. Subjects with either short or long CAG had increased seminal levels of prostate-specific antigen and neutral α-glucosidase activity. Compared to men with the median GGN length of 23, those with shorter GGN repeats had higher levels of inhibin B, higher proportions of normal and progressive sperm, and a higher fraction of Fas-positive sperm, while men with longer GGN had higher oestradiol levels.These data indicate that at least for some markers of male reproductive function the association with CAG or GGN repeat length is curvilinear.

Environmental mercury exposure, semen quality and reproductive hormones in Greenlandic Inuit and European men: a cross-sectional study

Several animal studies indicate that mercury is a male reproductive toxicant, but human studies are few and contradictory. We examined semen characteristics and serum levels of reproductive hormones in relation to environmental exposure to mercury. Blood and semen samples were collected from 529 male partners of pregnant women living in Greenland, Poland and Ukraine between May 2002 and February 2004. The median concentration of the total content of mercury in whole blood was 9.2 ng ml(-1) in Greenland (0.2-385.8 ng ml(-1)), 1.0 ng ml(-1) in Poland (0.2-6.4 ng ml(-1)) and 1.0 ng ml(-1) in Ukraine (0.2-4.9 ng ml(-1)). We found a significantly positive association between the blood levels of mercury and serum concentration of inhibin B in men from Greenland (β=0.074, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.021 to 0.126) and in an analysis including men from all three regions (β=0.067, 95% CI=0.024 to 0.110). The association may be due to beneficial effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are contained in seafood and fish. No significant association (P>0.05) was found between blood concentrations of mercury and any of the other measured semen characteristics (semen volume, total sperm count, sperm concentration, morphology and motility) and reproductive hormones (free androgen index (FAI), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and LH × testosterone) in any region. In conclusion, the findings do not provide evidence that environmental mercury exposure in Greenlandic and European men with median whole blood concentration up to 10 ng ml(-1) has adverse effects on biomarkers of male reproductive health.

Traditional Food Intake Is Correlated with Iron Stores in Canadian Inuit Men ,

AbstractAccelerated loss of traditional lifestyles may place Inuit at risk of iron depletion given that anemia has been observed among Arctic men. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of anemia, storage iron depletion, and iron overload and to identify correlates of iron status in Canadian Inuit men. In a cross-sectional survey of 994 men in the International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey, 2007–2008, hemoglobin, serum ferritin (SF), soluble transferrin receptor (on a subset), CRP, RBC fatty acid composition, and Helicobacter pylori serology were measured in venous blood drawn from fasting men. Anthropometric, dietary, sociodemographic, and health data were collected. Dietary and nondietary correlates of iron status were assessed with multiple linear and logistic models. For men with CRP #10 mg/L (n = 804),6.5% had depleted, 19.8% had low, and 10.3% had elevated iron stores. Anemia was moderately prevalent (16.1%), but iron deficiency anemia was less common (2.4%). There was a low probability of dietary iron inadequacy (2.4% ,Estimated Average Requirement) and excess iron intakes (10.7% > Tolerable Upper Intake Level). Food-insecure men and those without a household hunter had a higher risk of low or depleted iron stores. Adiposity, traditional food intake, long-chain RBC PUFA status, and inflammation were positively associated with SF and food insecurity, smoking, and H. pylori seropositivity were negatively associated with SF. Despite a moderate prevalence of anemia, iron stores are largely adequate in this population, although lower than expected based on iron intake. The regulation of iron metabolism in this population and the high prevalence of anemia in older men warrants further investigation.

Poor self-reported health and its association with biomarkers among Canadian Inuit

Objectives. To determine the extent to which demographic characteristics, clinical measurements and biomarkers were associated with poor self-reported health (SRH) among Inuit adults in the Canadian Arctic.Study design. Cross-sectional survey was adopted as the study design.Methods. The International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey carried out in 36 Canadian Arctic communities in 2007 and 2008 included Inuit men and women, aged 18 years or older, recruited from randomly selected households. The main outcome measure was SRH, which was dichotomized into good health (excellent, very good and good responses) and poor health (fair and poor responses).Results. Of the 2,796 eligible households, 1,901 (68%) households and 2,595 participants took part in the survey. The weighted prevalence of poor SRH was 27.8%. Increasing age was significantly associated with poor SRH. The relative risk ratios for poor SRH was 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–3.1) for men aged 50 years or older and 2.3 (95% CI 1.7–3.0) for women aged 50 years or older, compared with men and women aged 29 years or younger. After adjusting for age, gender and body mass index, poor SRH was significantly associated with smoking status (odds ratio [OR]=1.5; CI 1.1–2.0), at-risk fasting glucose levels (≥6.1 mmol/L) (OR=2.5; 95%; CI 1.5–4.2) and elevated hs C-reactive protein levels (>3–≤10 mg/L) (OR=2.1; 95% CI 1.4–3.1). Poor SRH was also significantly associated with a hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype (high-risk waist circumference ≥102 cm for men and ≥88 cm for women with high triglyceride levels, ≥1.7 mmol/L), adjusted for age and gender, OR=1.6; 95% CI 1.1–2.3.Conclusions. Clinically relevant indicators of chronic disease risk were related to subjective assessment of SRH among Inuit.

Transmission of Environmental Knowledge and Land Skills among Inuit Men in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada

The transmission of environmental knowledge and land skills was studied among Inuit men in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada. A list of 83 skills important for safe and successful harvesting was generated with 14 active hunters and elders, and examined with a sample of 47 men. This research found that land skills continue to be transmitted most often from older to younger generations through observation and apprenticeship in the environment. However there is a difference in the rate of skills transmission among generations, with average transmission rates lowest among younger respondents. Some skills were transmitted well among younger respondents including general hunting and camp-related skills, but others such as traveling on the sea ice and traditional navigation skills were not. Loss of certain skills and incomplete transmission of others were related to the absence of skills teachers, loss of native language, and changes in the educational environment.