Culture & Livelihood

Sealing is a vital activity for tens of thousands of rural Canadians throughout the country. There are two seal species that are more frequently harvest in Canada: the Harp Seal in Newfoundland & Labrador and the in Magdalen Islands in Quebec Province and the Ringed Seal in Nunavut, Northern Quebec and Northwest Territories. Due to its growing population in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Gray Seal hunt is developing in Nova Scotia and the Magdalen Islands.  More recently, indigenous communities in British Columbia have revive Harbor Seal harvest due to its predation on salmon species.

This Certification allows products harvested by indigenous communities and/or made by indigenous crafters to be marketed and sold on the Proudly Indigenous Crafts & Designs (PIC&D) online store. PIC&D is working with recognized bodies to ensure consumers receive high quality and authentic Indigenous seal products.

At the national level, the economic contribution of sealing is small—yet it represents a significant source of income for over 6,000 individuals and their families for Atlantic Canada coastal communities at a time of year when employment opportunities are extremely limited. In some communities, over 25% of households take part in the hunt, and among those people the hunt can account for 25-35% of their annual income.