A method for estimating caribou consumption by northern Canadians

Caribou is an important source of protein in the diet of northern Canadians . It is also an important pathway for airbone environmental contaminants th at concentrate in the lichen-->caribou-->human food chain. We present a met hod for estimating caribou consumption that is independent of questionnaire s and dietary surveys. The method is based on direct, whole-body measuremen ts of fallout radiocesium in northern caribou consumers and on measurements of the concentrations of radiocesium in the meat. From the 1989-90 surveys of five Arctic communities, we obtained the: following mean (90th percenti le) intakes of caribou meat in grams per day: Baker Lake - males 65 (141), females 41 (88); Rae-Edzo - males 42 (103), females 31 (80); Old Crow - mal es 41 (108), females 23 (59); Fort McPherson - males 41 (77), females 32 (6 8); Aklavik - males 20 (47), females 15 (37). Compared with surveys carried out in the late 1960s, these values indicate a twofold to fourfold decreas e in caribou consumption over a period of 20 years. A dietary survey questi onnaire administered during the 1989-90 survey provided useful information on the consumption of various caribou organs, methods of meat preparation, and consumption of other traditional foods.