The Inuit were slow to convert to the Christian faith. The missionaries required more than a show of interest before baptism. Five years passed before the first Inuit convert at Nain. The number of new converts began to rise quickly between 1799 and 1804. There had been great hardship during this time because game was scarce. The mission was seen as a refuge from social conflicts. Conversion offered Inuit women an increased social role and status. The appeal of Christian moral and social codes began to grow.

The missionaries wanted the Inuit to fish for cod. To the Inuit, cod fishing had always been work for women and old people. The fishing season occurred at a time of the year when caribou pelts were best for making winter clothing. Those who chose to fish would have to rely on clothing brought in from Europe. The Inuit cod fishery increased dependence on trade goods.

Large winter sod dwellings would often house about 20 people. Missionaries saw these as promoting poor health and “sinful” living. They pressed the Inuit to use single–family wooden houses. These were heated with wood. Finding and cutting wood reduced the time that the Inuit could spend sealing.

In 1926, the missionaries leased their trading rights and property to the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). The work of the HBC was focused on the fur trade. This further hampered Inuit hunting and fishing. They came to rely more on food imports. Inuit health declined as a result.