The thesis examines aspects of the construction of methylmercury as an authoritative object of knowledge for Chisasibi, a Cree community on the James Bay coast in northern Quebec. I describe the evolution of a particular set of spheres of exchange which mediate economic relations between the Cree communities, the governments of Quebec and Canada, and state and corporate structures tied to the state. Knowledge claims about mercury can be seen as situated among claims of injury in a moral economy which is based on conflict over the James Bay hydro-electric project. The politicization and subsequent medicalization of these knowledge claims are described. Finally, I trace the emergence of particular concepts of 'normality', 'risk' and 'risk group' in medical and technocratic discourses about the effects of methylmercury on Canadian aboriginal populations.

No description available.

Cree communities in Northern Quebec have been going through rapid changes since the first arrival of the Eurocanadians on their lands. Their customs, their houses and their eating habits have been deeply influenced by western living patterns. Today, the houses and the community designs remind more of the suburban Canadian landscape. Yet, Native social, cultural and natural environment still differs from non-Native communities in Canada. / Traditionally, women used to play an important role in the domestic area. Due to colonization, Native women have lost their status and are not part of the decision making process of their homes. Despite that, Native women have continued to play a special role in fostering a sense of identity in their communities. It is therefore important to involve them in housing projects in order to find designs more adapted to the needs of their families. / The case study took place in Chisasibi, a Cree village at the North of James Bay, which has been relocated 17 years ago, and been living in fully equipped houses based on western designs. This thesis aimed at revealing the opinion of Native women about their domestic environment and collect their suggestions for future improvements. The results showed that Native families' lifestyles have become more and more diversified: some want to incorporate traditional behavior patterns, other on the contrary, are more inclined in living the western way. Of course age and social background play an important role in their opinions. Still, the major critic concerns the inappropriate designs, the lack of space and storage which tend to influence the way people use the space in the house. The thesis pointed out the importance of defining housing layouts in accordance to the Native families' choices and sense of identity.

No description available.

This thesis studies how Native women make life choices and set goals for themselves, and what influences those choices. In Chisasibi, James Bay, young Cree women learn their roles and responsibilities--what is expected of them as women--at school, at home, in the bush and, most importantly, from the examples set for them by older women in the community. Cree women's descriptions and perceptions of their own lives, in their own words, forms the basis of the framework used here to analyze women's comments on their aspirations, expectations and obligations. The conclusions drawn here are first, that Cree women perceive the range of choices that they have to be determined by the scope of their responsibilities to their families and their community, and second, that young women are taught to expect to assume these social responsibilities too.

No description available.

Les communautés cries de la Baie-James sont restées attachées à leurs pratiques traditionnelles. De ce fait, elles sont, encore aujourd'hui, en contact étroit avec la faune et théoriquement, plus à risque de contracter des zoonoses. Neuf infections zoonotiques ont été investiguées à partir des sérums de 267 participants à Chisasibi (166) et Waskaganish (101) en 2008. Ces personnes ont aussi répondu à un questionnaire documentant leurs caractéristiques sociodémographiques et leurs activités de chasse et de trappe. Des taux de séroprévalence plus élevés pour Leptospira sp. (23%), Francisella tularensis (18%), le virus Jamestown Canyon (17%) et Toxoplasma gondii (9%) ont été documentés. Une séroprévalence inférieure à 5% a été obtenue pour C. burnetii, E. granulosus, T. canis, ainsi que le virus Snow Shoe Hare. Par ailleurs, aucune sérologie positive pour Trichinella sp. n'a pu être détectée chez les participants des deux communautés. Les séroprévalences des infections par Leptospira sp. et T. gondii étaient plus élevées à Chisasibi qu'à Waskaganish, alors que celles pour T. canis et le virus Jamestown Canyon étaient plus élevées à Waskaganish qu'à Chisasibi. Certaines variables en lien avec la faune ont été associées statistiquement à l'exposition à divers pathogènes. On a noté une relation entre la manipulation de lièvres et une sérologie positive pour Leptospira sp., alors que l'absence de port de gants lors de la manipulation des animaux a été associée à l'exposition au virus Jamestown Canyon. Des tendances statistiques ont également été détectées concernant la relation entre la manipulation de canards et l'exposition à Toxoplasma gondii, ainsi qu'entre l'absence de port de gants lors de la manipulation des animaux et le fait d'avoir des activités de chasse et de trappe au printemps et une sérologie positive pour Leptospira sp. respectivement à Chisasibi et Waskaganish. L'examen des dossiers médicaux n'a pas révélé de problèmes de santé importants liés aux maladies zoonotiques. Néanmoins, une proportion importante de la population a été exposée à certains pathogènes, en particulier au virus Jamestown Canyon et aux bactéries Leptospira sp. et F. tularensis.

Community development (CD) is viewed as a way to improve the social, physical, organizational and economic outcomes of a community. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of a strength training facility on CD and provide an insight into its impact on the community. Qualitative research was conducted by two data collection exercises. The first was a 12-week period, while the second was one week long. A segmented thematic analysis was used to explore the data provided by three target groups and participants’ observations. The findings provided insight into the facility’s contribution to CD in particular, noting that a strength training facility can influence personal, economic, social, environmental and organizational outcomes within a community. The research contributes to the existing literature in leisure by providing evidence of CD from a remote First Nations community. The research reveals how arrangements for physical activities can improve the welfare of a community.