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By Anne Guèvremont and Dafna Kohen
Doctors rarely work in Inuit communities on a regular basis. Medical emergencies require evacuation to southern hospitals and many Inuit are sent to the South for appointments with medical specialists, diagnosis and treatments. Inuit communities have health centers staffed by at least one nurse, and this is usually the first point of contact for most Inuit children with the medical system.
Children are embracing affectionately
Chart 1
Inuit children were less likely to have had contact with a doctor in the last 12 months (family physician, pediatrician or other specialist) compared to all children in Canada
Most Inuit communities do not have a resident dentist, although dentists from southern Canada fly into remote communities throughout the year. As a result, only the most serious dental issues get treated upon a dentist’s visit. In dental emergencies, Inuit are evacuated by air to the South for treatment. Trips south are also required for consultation with dental specialists.
According to The Public Health Agency of Canada, breastfeeding is the best way to provide healthy food for the growth and development of infants.
Chart 2
Inuit children who were breastfed were more likely to be breastfed for more than six months compared to all children in Canada
The Dieticians of Canada recommend that all children start their day with a good breakfast. Children who eat breakfast perform better at school, have healthier weights, and eat more essential nutrients.
Children playing with puppies
This Inuit fact sheet is one in a series based on data from the 2001 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS). This report is a joint publication between The Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division and The Health Information and Research Division at Statistics Canada, as well as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. For more information, see the report entitled: The Health of Inuit Children: Report /bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=89-627-X2007003.
Unless otherwise stated, data are for children aged 0 to14. Information for Inuit children was gathered from the “person most knowledgeable” (PMK) about the child. In most cases the PMK was the birth parent (mother or father), but it could also have been a grandparent, an aunt or an uncle.
For this report, Inuit children were those who had Inuit identity along with those who had Inuit identity combined with North American Indian or Métis identity.
The Canadian Arctic refers to the four Inuit regions where the majority of Inuit live 1) the northern coastal region of Labrador; 2) Nunavik in northern Quebec; 3) the territory of Nunavut; 4) the Inuvialuit region in the Northwest Territories.
For this fact sheet, “Labrador” consists of Rigolet, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Makkovik, Nain and Postville. (This makes it different from the Nunatsiavut region, which excludes Happy Valley-Goose Bay and includes Hopedale). The Inuvialuit region consists of the following communities: Inuvik, Aklavik, Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok (Holman) and Tuktoyaktuk.
Alootook Ipellie was born in a hunting camp on the north coast of Frobisher Bay in the Northwest Territories. He grew up in Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay), and had a multifaceted career in the fine arts. As a graphic artist, cartoonist, photographer and writer, he contributed to many Inuit publications in the Canadian Arctic until his passing in September 2007.
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