Towards a participatory approach to risk communication: the case of contaminants and Inuit health

Indigenous populations residing in the Arctic commonly rely on country foods for nutritional, spiritual and cultural benefits. However, some food sources have become contaminated with heavy metals or persistent organic pollutants. As a result of these contaminants, it is critical that risk communicators develop effective and culturally appropriate health messages about the risks and benefits of eating country foods. To address this challenge in the Canadian Inuit region of Nunavik, a working group was formed to advance risk management, determine health advisories, and communicate recommendations about local country foods. The Nunavik Child Development Study (NCDS) Communications Working Group included local hunters, educators, health care professionals, researchers, and communicators, among others. In-depth interviews with members of the NCDS Communications Working Group were completed to provide insight into the risk management approach and how communication messages and materials were developed and delivered. Study results reveal the importance of including members of the Inuit population affected by the risk in the design and dissemination of communication material. In addition, researchers and healthcare professionals were able to: (1) access important local knowledge; (2) better understand the perceptions of the populations; and (3) assess behaviors that contributed to contaminant exposure. By incorporating multiple perspectives and including members of the population in the affected region in the decision-making process, there was greater consensus in risk management and communication design. We discuss the benefits and challenges of utilizing an approach that includes participatory elements, and how lessons from this case can contribute to participatory risk communication literature more broadly. This study ultimately provides insight into how using elements of a participatory approaches to risk management and communication – that considers different experiences, knowledges, and skills – can result in potentially more culturally relevant health advisories and risk communication campaigns.