Rich in culture, landscapes, and history, Nunavut is an exceptional place in Canada’s northeast. The beautiful yet harsh environment makes for resilient peoples. Generations of Nunavummiut have mastered land, ice, and sea, and continue to call Nunavut home. Home is where we feel safe, happy, and healthy, living and growing, raising families, and being part of our community. The Social Determinants of Health are defined as “the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life” (WHO, 2017). How has Nunavut embraced the Social Determinants of Health to ensure the next generations continue to thrive in this region?
As a unique population and environment, diverse from Canada’s southern provinces, it is imperative to acknowledge that broadly applied determinants may not accurately meet the descriptive needs of Canada’s Inuit. As a result, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK, a national Inuit representation and advocacy group) published a report and visual framework (see above) on the Social Determinants of Inuit Health in Canada, which outlines the Inuit-specific determinants to help address unambiguous concerns with Inuit well-being. The Inuit Determinants are Quality of Early Childhood Development, Culture and Language, Livelihoods, Income Distribution, Housing, Personal Safety and Security, Education, Food Security, Availability of Health Services, Mental Wellness, and Environment (ITK, 2014). Of these national Inuit determinants, the Government of Nunavut (GN) published the 2014 Health Profile, underlining six key determinants for Nunavummiut health: Education, Housing, Employment, Risk Factors, Community Strengths, and Food Insecurity (Department of Health, 2016). These determinants have shaped health policy and action in Nunavut in recent years.
Why has the Government of Nunavut chosen to focus on these six determinants? A quick glance at the data can help to explain. The Department of Health, GN summarizes data pulled from various national and Nunavut sources, such as Statistics Canada and Public Health. Compared to the other provinces and territories, the Nunavut data shows significantly lower rates of secondary education (high school diploma), substantial overcrowding and disrepair of housing, consistently high rates of food insecurity, unstable income and lower employment rates, and disproportionately high rates of risk factors (i.e. smoking, alcohol consumption) (Department of Health, 2016). Notably, the data identifies that Nunavummiut do report strong connections to the community and that this is a strength for Nunavut (Department of Health, 2016).
Why has the Government of Nunavut chosen to focus on these six determinants? A quick glance at the data can help to explain. The Department of Health, GN summarizes data pulled from various national and Nunavut sources, such as Statistics Canada and Public Health. Compared to the other provinces and territories, the Nunavut data shows significantly lower rates of secondary education (high school diploma), substantial overcrowding and disrepair of housing, consistently high rates of food insecurity, unstable income and lower employment rates, and disproportionately high rates of risk factors (i.e. smoking, alcohol consumption) (Department of Health, 2016). Notably, the data identifies that Nunavummiut do report strong connections to the community and that this is a strength for Nunavut (Department of Health, 2016).
As Nunavut continues to address these determinants, we will continue to see the birth and growth of programs that employ and support Nunavummiut. An example of current efforts is the Nunavut Food Security Coalition. The coalition addresses food insecurity stating “All Nunavummiut will have access to an adequate supply of safe, culturally preferable, affordable, nutritious food, through a food system that promotes Inuit Societal values, self-reliance, and environmental sustainability” (Nunavut Food Security Coalition, 2016). Featuring multiple projects, they are currently working on the “Core Recipe Project”, which is focused on developing and showcasing nutritious recipes from store-bought foods, which is becoming more important due to the decrease in the availability of traditional foods and increase of packaged goods (Nunavut Food Security Coalition, 2014). With a significant shift in the Nunavummiut diet, this is a positive response that will engage the community and offer education on new and nutritious food options.
The Social Determinants of Health are all interconnected. For example, mental health and well-being can be linked to employment opportunities, or early childhood development can be linked to future education. Although Nunavut has focused on these six determinants as priorities, there is an assumed positive runoff into the other Social Determinants of Inuit Health. Improving these five areas with the continued development of community and provincial programs, and continuing to strengthening the connection to the community, will help Nunavut to meet national averages and ensure healthful generations to come.
References
About social determinants of health. (2017, September 25). Retrieved June 06, 2020, from https://www.who.int/social_determinants/sdh_definition/en/
Department of Health. (2016, March). Health Profile Nunavut: Information to 2014. [Report]. Government of Nunavut. Retrieved from https://www.gov.nu.ca/sites/default/files/files/health_profile_nunavut.pdf
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. (2014, September). Comprehensive Report on the Social Determinants of Inuit Health. Retrieved June 11, 2020, from https://www.itk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ITK_Social_Determinants_Report.pdf
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. (2014, September). Conceptual framework of the key social determinants of health for Inuit in Canada. [Image]. Social Determinants of Inuit Health in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.itk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Overview_FactSheet.pdf
Nunavut Food Security Coalition. (2014, April 01). Core Recipe Project. Retrieved June 14, 2020, from https://www.nunavutfoodsecurity.ca/highlighted-actions/core-recipe-project
Nunavut Food Security Coalition. (2016). Vision and Principles. Retrieved June 14, 2020, from https://www.nunavutfoodsecurity.ca/Collective_Vision_and_Mission
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