Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean is garnering international headlines with her latest controversial act, eating a raw seal heart.

Attending a traditional Inuit event, Jean tasted the cultural delicacy publicizing the affair as an attempt to increase solidarity between Canada and the Aboriginal community.

“It’s delicious,” said Jean. “I tried the heart of the seal and it’s fresh.”

This publicity stunt happened only 20 days after Prime Minister Stephen Harper vowed to “vigourously” defend Canada’s seal industry. His reaction was sparked by the recent overwhelming support to ban seal hunting within the European Union.

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Canada, along with Norway and other seal hunting countries, plan to file a complaint against the EU ban with the World Trade Organization. They claim bans against seal hunting defy international trade agreements since the species hunted are not endangered. It becomes a tricky game of favouritism when other nations decide whether or not it is acceptable to hunt other controversial delicacies like dog meat.

“Hunting and eating a seal is not a political act, nor is it ‘bizarre’ or ‘disgusting’ as the anti-sealing lobby have commented,” said Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. “To us, this kind gesture is an acknowledgment by the Governor General of our culture and our dependence upon our wildlife as an important resource for our communities today.”

Animal activists have balked at this notion.

“It amazes us that a Canadian official would indulge in such blood lust. It sounds like she’s trying to give Canadians an even more Neanderthal image around the world than they already have,” said Dan Mathews, vice-president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

After this video was taken, Jean was invited to join an Inuit tribe on a seal hunt. Jean cordially accepted the invitation. PM Harper, who will be heading up north later in the year, chose to take a different approach when questioned whether he intends to consume seal meat.

“Let’s say the Prime Minister is not a vegetarian,” said a spokesperson on behalf of Stephen Harper.

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