Seal hunt a 'way of life for Inuits'

A top Canadian Inuit official defended his country’s seal hunt today, saying it was vital to the survival of aboriginal peoples in the Arctic and provided an economic lifeline for an area desperate for jobs and growth.

Paul Okalik, premier of Canada’s northern Nunavut territory, said the majority of the 30,000 people in his territory were dependent on seals and other native species like the polar bear and fish for their everyday food.