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TTHEK'EHDELI/JEAN MARIE RIVER
A recent workshop in Jean Marie River was designed to increase understanding around mercury levels in fish and the continuing benefits of eating fish.

Dr. Kami Kandola, far left, the deputy chief public health officer for the NWT, makes a presentation during the A Return to Country Food workshop held in Jean Marie River from Aug. 21 to 22. - photo courtesy of Caroline Lafontaine

A Return to Country Foods workshop was hosted by the Jean Marie River First Nation from Aug. 21 to 22. The workshop was organized by the Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management program (AAROM).

The purpose of the workshop was to bring together leaders and resource managers to discuss the results of the ongoing mercury studies conducted in the Deh Cho by AAROM, said George Low, the Deh Cho's AAROM co-ordinator.

"The problem with doing mercury studies is people become afraid to eat fish at all," he said.

Low said the primary message from the workshop was that there are still lots of fish that are safe to eat. Representatives from Jean Marie River, Liidlii Kue First Nation, Kakisa, Trout Lake, Wrigley and Fort Providence participated in the workshop. They heard presentation about how mercury works through the food chain, where the mercury is coming from, the youth ecology camps that AAROM has been supporting and the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy.

Dr. Kami Kandola, the deputy chief public health officer for the NWT, presented on the nutritional benefits of country food, including fish, and how to make informed decisions about the food.

One of the difficulties is when communities hear about public health advisories about elevated mercury levels in certain species of fish in certain lakes, they don't want to eat fish at all, Kandola said.

Little chance of health impacts

The advisories, however, like the one that was put in place for Northern pike and walleye from Ekali Lake this past February, are directed more towards people who eat fish frequently over a prolonged period of time, she said. For people who eat the fish listed in the advisories occasionally, there is little chance of health impacts from the mercury levels.

"It's really important that people don't get afraid of eating fish," she said.

Consuming fish has a number of health benefits including omega 3 fatty-acids, vitamin D and protein. During her presentation, Kandola stressed that non-predatory fish from all lakes in the NWT, including whitefish, ciscos, graylings and suckers, are safe to eat.

Predatory fish such as walleye start to accumulate higher levels of mercury, which they absorb from the fish they eat. As fish get older and bigger, they retain more mercury, she said.

Not every lake, however, has elevated levels of mercury. Deep, cold lakes tend to have less mercury, even in predators, compared to warm, shallow lakes, said Kandola.

Kandola said there is a continuing need for monitoring and testing of mercury levels in fish as well as education around the benefits of eating fish. Kandola said the workshop in Jean Marie River was one of the best she's attended on this subject. The right people were around the table and they were interested in the subject, she said.

"Having the workshop has benefited our community and our youth," said Chief Stan Sanguez of the Jean Marie River First Nation.

"Our community is starting to understand more about the mercury and the fish," he said.

Sanguez said community residents were turned off of fish after healthy advisories were issued for nearby Ekali, Deep and McGill lakes. As a result of the workshop Sanguez said he, as well as other residents, have a better understanding of where the mercury comes from, why levels are increasing and which fish are better to eat.

"Fish consumption is still good," said Sanguez.

"I'm still going to eat fish."

Sanguez said he also learned that mercury levels in the lakes are possibly higher in part because not as many fish, including large pickerel and jackfish, are being harvested. Sanguez said the community plans to harvest in the three lakes and use the fish as bait for trapping to see if they can lower the mercury levels.

Chief Lloyd Chicot of Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation in Kakisa said he learned quite a bit from the workshop. Chicot said it was good to get people together to learn more about what mercury is about.

Chicot said people in Kakisa aren't overly concerned about mercury levels in fish because they have a practice of moving between different lakes to harvest fish. More public education about fish and mercury is needed, however, said Chicot.

Mercury wasn't the only topic at the workshop. Discussions also branched out towards other sources of contamination and fishery management.

Low said the workshop concluded with a discussion on how to let people know about the low level of risks that comes with eating fish. It was a good workshop and there were many positive comments from people who attended, he said.

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