While some Bermudians would likely turn up their nose at the thought of eating walrus, seal or polar bear for dinner, one local anthropologist suggests our diets might have more in common with Inuit communities than we think.

Bermudian scientist Dr Philippe Rouja recently worked with internationally-renowned researcher Dr Eric Dewailly on an upcoming documentary about the changing diets in coastal people around the world.

The film uncovers how Northern communities have moved from healthy, traditional wild food diets to western imported food. Over the past 30 years studies show the health benefits of these people have steadily eroded as they consume more commercial fats instead of the healthy “country fats”.

A lecture entitled ‘Eating Blubber Vs Eating Chips - Learning from Native People’s Changing Diets’, along with a preview screening of the film, will take place tonight at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute at 7.30pm. Both scientists will be on hand for the special event.

and preview screening of the film will take place tonight at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute at 7.30pm. Both scientists will be on hand for the special event.

Dr Rouja said: “Bermuda has access to a huge stock of wild food. All local fish is wild caught. As a result of this we share the same benefits and sensitivities with other coastal communities around the world.

“The challenges they are now facing we are also facing. We have more in common with indigenous cultures than we think!”

Dr Rouja is a Bermudian cultural and medical anthropologist with over 20 years of experience researching the specific benefits and challenges faced by small coastal communities. His research bridges the social and medical sciences and he has worked extensively with local knowledge experts in indigenous maritime communities in places like Northern Australia, French Polynesia, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

Dr Dewailly, known globally as the ‘Omega-3 fatty acid king’, is a specialist in public health (France and Canada) and holds an MD and a PhD in human toxicology.

He has been connected to Bermuda since 1998 when he started the Ocean Human Health Centre at BIOS.

In 2003 his mobile ocean human health laboratories ‘Atlantis’ 2003 carried out a broad range of important health studies — including Bermuda’s first fetal cord blood study. The labs returned to Bermuda last year, after spending ten years between the Arctic and the Caribbean for one last study season working in partnership with the Bermuda Government and BIOS on a number of studies.

Tonight’s lecture will kick off at 7.30pm, but people are encouraged to come early if they are interested in having dinner at Harbourfront Restaurant.

Tickets to the event are $20 for Members; $25 for Non-members, and are available by calling 294-0204 or visiting Oceans Gift Shop at BUEI. People with tickets are also entitled to 20 percent off dinner at the Harbourfront before or after the lecture. The offer cannot be combined with any other promotions. For reservations call 295-4207 and be sure to reference the lecture.