Can an Ecohealth Research Approach Contribute to the Resolution of Dog-Related Issues in Kuujjuaq?
In Nunavik, public policies on dogs are based on those used in southern Quebec and do not consider Inuit cultural norms and practices. These policies lead to tensions, and the resulting interventions have, at best, had limited success. Taking this into consideration, as well as the complexity of the issues related to dogs reported by both Nunavik residents and local and provincial authorities, an interdisciplinary research team developed a project using an ecohealth approach in collaboration with several local partners. After describing the context of dog management in Kuujjuaq, the article proposes an analysis of factors that favour or hinder the resolution of dog-related issues. The paper then shows how the ecohealth project interacts with these factors to develop effective and sustainable solutions, which will ultimately lead to changes in practices and public policy on dog management in Kuujjuaq.