NWT Regional Contaminants Committee
The Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) is a federal program that was established in 1991 in response to concerns about human exposure to elevated levels of contaminants in wildlife species that are important to the traditional diets. Early studies found a wide variety of substances, many of which had no Arctic or Canadian sources, but which were, nevertheless, reaching unexpectedly high levels in the Arctic ecosystem.
NCP funds research on northern contaminants, including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and mercury, both nationally and internationally. This information is used by national and regional health authorities to develop dietary advice to northerners, particularly those who are dependent on marine mammals and fish as an important part of their diets.
The NCP allocates funds for research and related activities in five main areas:
- Human Health
- Environmental Monitoring and Research
- Community Based Monitoring and Research
- Communications, Capacity, and Outreach
- National/Regional/International Coordination and Aboriginal Partnerships.
The NWT Regional Contaminant Committee (NWT RCC) provides recommendations on funding proposals in the NWT, including research in the Dehcho region. There are representatives from the regional health authorities, wildlife and research authorities, and Aboriginal organizations on the NWT RCC.
DFN’s representative on the NWT RCC is:
Resource Management Coordinator, DFN
Tel: (867) 695-2355
NWT Regional Contaminants Committee Coordinator
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Tel: (867) 669-2416
Fax: (867) 669-2721