Indigenous Resources - Background, Policy, Analysis: Health

Full-text publications and other materials still are available at the site.

"...This audit focused on whether Indigenous Services Canada provided adequate support to First Nations communities to ensure that they have access to safe drinking water. We examined the department’s progress against the federal government’s commitment to eliminate all long-term drinking water advisories on public water systems on First Nations reserves by 31 March 2021....We also examined whether the department determined and provided the amount of funding necessary to operate and maintain drinking water infrastructure and whether, in collaboration with First Nations, the department made progress in developing a regulatory regime for drinking water in First Nations communities.

"CAAN provides a National forum for Aboriginal Peoples to wholistically address HIV and AIDS, HCV, STBBIs, TB, Mental Health, aging and related co-morbidity issues; promotes a Social Determinants of Health Framework through advocacy; and provides accurate and up to date resources on these issues in a culturally relevant manner for Aboriginal Peoples wherever they reside."

"This paper aims to improve understandings of Indigenous mental health in Canada, and demonstrate how particular determinants either contribute to increased risk for mental illness or act as protective factors for positive mental health...".

"The First Nations and Inuit Health and Wellness Indicators provide an overview of some key facets of the health of First Nations people and Inuit. These indicators are grouped into four domains - demographics, health status and outcomes, determinants of health, and health system performance. In addition to each indicator, some interpretive text is provided."

Autumn 2019: Links to list of publications. See entry for this title in 2019 - links include report,summary, supplements/ data extras and infographic.

"...On June 19, 2020, I (Hon. Dr. M.E. Turpel-Lafond (Aki-Kwe) ) was appointed by British Columbia’s Minister of Health, the Hon. Adrian Dix, to conduct a review of Indigenous-specific racism in the provincial health care system...."
From the Executive Summary: "...Through listening to thousands of voices – through survey results, direct submissions, health care data, and interviews – a picture is presented, as illustrated by Findings 1-5, of
a B.C. health care system with widespread systemic racism against Indigenous people. This stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice results in a range of negative impacts, harm, and even death. Indigenous women are particularly impacted. Public health emergencies are magnifying these issues.
The Review also found, as illustrated by Findings 6-11, that this problem is widely acknowledged by many within the health care system, including those in positions of authority. There have been some well-intentioned and positive efforts to address this problem. However, these efforts are sporadic, disconnected, at times personality-dependent, and not underpinned by strong
and systemic foundations...."

"... includes links to research institutes and organizations undertaking Indigenous health research and knowledge translation across Canada and internationally. The database can be searched by key word, organization name, geographic location, or organization type."

It's "... a comprehensive listing of researchers who are affiliated with a Canadian university and have a wide range of expertise related to the health of Indigenous peoples. These researchers have undertaken some form of research related to the health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis peoples, ranging from one study to a lifetime of work in a particular area....Compiled by the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH), this listing is based on publicly available information on university websites in Canada."

"The present study seeks to fill a knowledge gap by providing a profile of First Nations people living off reserve, Métis, and Inuit living with a disability using data from the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS). The APS is a unique national survey designed to collect information on the social and economic conditions of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The paper provides an overview of disability prevalence among First Nations people living off reserve, Métis and Inuit by sex, age group and geography. To account for differences in sex, age, geography (i.e. province/territory/Inuit region), and population centre size between the population groups considered, logistic regression analysis is presented. A discussion of disability characteristics, including disability severity and disability type, follows"

"... The portal is part of Statistics Canada's Indigenous Statistical Capacity Development Initiative, and provides a central location on the agency's website where users can find links to data products about First Nations people, Métis and Inuit.
The Indigenous Statistics Portal provides data on Indigenous communities, children and families, health and well-being, education, work and many other topics, in one convenient location...."

"IIPH is dedicated to supporting research and building research capacity in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples' health. IIPH research funding supports researchers located in universities, hospitals and other research centres across Canada. Research funding is in the form of grants, funding of capacity building programs and training for Indigenous researchers. "

"Indigenous Peoples in Canada (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) continue to experience serious health inequities in comparison to the general Canadian population. Changing the status quo requires introducing new knowledge. Research paradigms that are based on Indigenous cultures, values and beliefs and that are respectful of traditional Indigenous knowledges underpin the work ahead and the ‘reason for being’ of IIPH....With guidance from Indigenous communities, Elders and Knowledge Holders in
Canada, IIPH has developed a strategic plan that will contribute to improving Indigenous health outcomes. Community engagement sessions were vital to establishing the
vision for this strategic plan. Through these sessions, the voice of Indigenous
communities was strong and focused on the communities’ health and wellbeing needs.
The result is a strategic plan that incorporates their voices while aligning with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action. "

"The seventh release in our Let’s Talk series discusses racism as a critical factor that impacts health and wellbeing. It describes the concepts of race, racism and racialization and emphasizes settler colonialism and structural racism as the root causes of health and social inequities experienced by Indigenous and racialized peoples in Canada."

"...The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has called upon the federal government to provide data on a number of health indicators, including life expectancy among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit. In Canada, estimating the life expectancy of Indigenous populations is methodologically challenging since death registrations do not usually collect information on whether the deceased was Indigenous. For the first time in Canada, a series of census–mortality linked datasets has been created that can be used to estimate life expectancies among Indigenous household populations enumerated by a census...."

"The primary aim of this report was to examine the association of the InSight mentoring program with the long-term outcomes of its participants and their children across health and social spheres. The InSight mentoring program, provided through Healthy Child Manitoba, provides support and advocacy through outreach and intensive case management. It is aimed at preventing future fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) births for women who are pregnant or postnatal...".

"MCHP is a research unit within the Department of Community Health Sciences, in the Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba, focusing on the question "What makes people healthy?"
We carry out population-based research on health services, population and public health, and the social determinants of health. Many factors affect health, such as health care, health programs and policies, income, education, employment and social circumstances. Our research helps Manitoba to maximize our healthcare dollars and to identify health and social policy tools we need for the future. We also research what will level the playing field between children from low- and high-income neighbourhoods, and northern and rural areas and urban areas."

"Fire-related mortality and morbidity has previously been demonstrated to be significantly higher among Indigenous people in Canada. However, several gaps in literature remain. This report examines age-standardized mortality and hospitalization rates relating to fire, burns and carbon monoxide poisoning among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit and compares it to rates among non-Indigenous people, living in private households"

"The National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH) is a national Indigenous organization established in 2005 by the Government of Canada and funded through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis public health renewal and health equity through knowledge translation and exchange. The NCCIH is hosted by the University of Northern BC (UNBC) in Prince George, BC."
Includes links to publications and videos.
*"As of May 30th, 2019, the National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health (NCCAH) will adopt a new name, the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH). "

"Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research since December 1, 2001, the Network for Aboriginal Mental Health Research (NAMHR) is committed to building capacity for mental health and addictions research and knowledge translation in remote, rural and urban settings by working in close partnership with Aboriginal organizations and communities.
The priority of the Network is to develop research capacity. To that end, the emphasis is on networking and training for existing researchers and conducting a series of pilot projects that provide a basis to seek funding for larger scale projects from other sources including regular CIHR competitions, federal and provincial programs and Aboriginal organizations."

"Mental health and addictions issues affect Manitoba children and youth at soaring rates and, for years, demand for these health services has outpaced supply. In the last five years, suicide has become the leading manner of death for Manitoba youth ages 10-17. This special report dives into lessons learned from the suicide deaths of 22 Manitoba girls. The girls, ages 11-17, were primarily from rural and northern Manitoba communities and died between 2013 and 2019. Their struggles point to glaring cracks in provincial mental health and addiction services. The Advocate makes seven recommendations to the provincial government about how to fix these systems and therefore improve the wellbeing of Manitoba children and youth."

Social Determinants of Health

ÈThe Thunderbird Partnership Foundation is a non-profit organization that is committed to working with First Nations to further the capacity of communities to address substance use and addiction. We promote a holistic approach to healing and wellness that values culture, respect, community, and compassion. Our top priority is developing a continuum of care that would be available to all Indigenous people in Canada.È

"Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Indigenous Health builds capacity within the Winnipeg health region to support the holistic needs of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people.

WRHA Indigenous Health works with Regional programs and facilities in helping identify, develop and implement culturally safe environments, practices and services. WRHA Indigenous Health also provides a range of services for staff, community members, patients and patients' families through its Patient Services, Workforce Development and Cultural Initiatives programs."