# Gigiigooinaan (Our Fish): A New Advisory to Promote Anishinaabe Health and Wellness

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 2021 · $223,611

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
 The Anishinaabe (Laurentian Great Lakes Ojibwe/Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi) are traditionally
a fishing culture 8 but now they only consume one third of the daily fish intake recommended by many federal
agencies.9-11 Ongoing concern regarding Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics (PBTs) in the Great Lakes has
resulted in over 20 years of fish consumption advisories. These advisories are often seen as unwelcome to the
Anishinaabe given the cultural context. There is evidence that this leads to: cultural loss, unnecessary PBT
exposures, and poor diet (exemplified by reduced intake of beneficial Poly-Unsaturated Omega-3 Fatty
Acids).10,12-17 The proposed team has piloted a culturally tailored, interactive, personalized fish consumption
advisory, “Gigiigooinaan” (Our Fish), that holds great potential to transform fish consumption advice in the
region.26 Previous research in the tribal fisheries and new risk assessment methods have revealed that it may
be possible to consistently benefit from these fish without incurring excess risks. To promote environmental
health in these tribal communities it is important that research programs demonstrate an ability to communicate
the benefits of fish without increasing PBT exposure. Since Gigiigoo’inaan has not yet been released to the
public there is an opportunity to evaluate its effects on dietary choices in an experimental setting.
 Optimizing intakes of nutritional benefits versus PBTs decreases the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart
disease, metabolic disorders, depression, and developmental deficits.11, 16, 17, 20, 52, 78-85 This also empowers the
Anishinaabe to maintain a culture which emphasizes subsistence of fish and game. The team will build off 13
years of collaboration to update and test the App which will conveniently summarize personalized advice using
data collected by the tribes. The Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority (CORA) will collect data that update
previous monitoring efforts in collaboration with grant objectives and to update Gigiigooinan.26 The effect of the
advisory on biologically and culturally relevant behaviors will be experimentally tested. The proposed work is
based on requests made by tribal officials and researchers who are imbedded in the community and has been
developed with their input. The analysis will provide vital information regarding: 1) the latest risk/benefit advice
for tribal harvests of fish, 2) how a novel tool affects exposures and nutrition of the target population, and 3)
perceptions of culturally tailored outreach methods that may vary depending on tribal affiliation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10132189
- **Project number:** 5R01ES028255-04
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew J Dellinger
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $223,611
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10132189

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10132189, Gigiigooinaan (Our Fish): A New Advisory to Promote Anishinaabe Health and Wellness (5R01ES028255-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10132189. Licensed CC0.

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