THE HEALING POWER OF THE SEAL - THE MEANING OF INUIT HEALTH PRACTICE AND BELIEF

Little is known about the production of health in Inuit society. Seal meat, oil, broth, and skin are products of North Baffin Island Inuit s ubsistence that are used to treat and prevent sickness. By studying th e ethnomedical practice of using seal as a medicinal, the Inuit concep t of health is revealed. This concept is best viewed as a synthesis of the individual state of being combining the concepts of soul or mind and body, the social well-being of the community maintained through th e hunting ritual and food sharing, and the body politic through which individuals exercise political power to provide health and well-being to others in the family and within the larger community. It contrasts with the narrow definition of health offered by western medical expert s. The Inuit concept of health influences health-seeking behavior, com pliance with western medical treatment plans, and classification of il lness. The health status of the community would be better served by op en respect and cooperation between the two health care systems.