The National Aboriginal Health Organization s Monthly E mail News

The National Aboriginal Health Organization’s Monthly E-mail News NAHO Bulletin May 2004 Vol. 3, No. 5 NAHO invited to attend Aboriginal Peoples historic roundtable By Melanie Ferris The National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) took part in the historic Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable hosted by the Prime Minister in Ottawa on April 19. The Chairperson of NAHO’s Board of Directors, Noreen McActeer, attended the meeting as NAHO’s designated spokesperson. Executive Director Bernice Downey joined her. Downey stated, following the meeting, “NAHO was pleased to be included. The meeting was packed with representatives from both government and Aboriginal groups. It was very well planned and it went well.” NAHO took part in discussion groups on health and renewing relationships. “The Prime Minister attended one of the discussions NAHO was involved with on renewing relationships. In the afternoon, Minister Pierre Pettigrew participated in the health discussion group as well as Minister Carolyn Bennett,” Downey explained. “It was an opportunity to speak directly to these issues with senior levels of government present. I believe the intention was to try and achieve something different; a different way of working together to try and address Aboriginal Peoples’ situations in terms of health determinants, capacity building and a number of issues.” Table of Contents Policy Research Unit Ajunnginiq Centre (Inuit) Métis Centre First Nations Centre page 2 page 3 page 4 page 5 NAHO’s Board of Directors Chairperson Noreen McActeer at the Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable in Ottawa. A f e w d a y s b e f o r e t h e h i s t o r i c ing to include Aboriginal health as a poroundtable, NAHO held its own his- tential flagship project for the ACMC toric meeting over three days. From and other partners to focus on as part of April 13 to 15, the Governing Commit- their social accountability work,” tees for NAHO’s Ajunnginiq, First Downey explained. Nations and Métis centres met collabo“This initiative is connected to ratively for the first time. The meeting NAHO’s Object 4, which is increasing was part of NAHO’s strategic planning the number of Aboriginal Peoples in health care. It is very hopeful that this exercise. The meeting resulted in the centre Di- group and the participants at this forum rectors and the Executive Director agree- are all thinking that Aboriginal health ing to draft an operational framework for and the need to recruit Aboriginal phyfurther discussion. This process will be sicians should be a priority. I was shared with NAHO’s Board of Directors pleased with the enthusiasm.” at their meeting in June. Another important event at NAHO At the end of April, Downey attended the i n A p r i l w a s t h e s u b m i s s i o n o f first Partners Forum for the Social Account- N A H O ’s E v a l u a t i o n t o H e a l t h ability in Halifax along with Policy Ana- Canada. The evaluation was produced lyst Roberta Stout. The Association of a s p a r t o f a n a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n Canadian Medical Colleges (ACMC) or- Health Canada and NAHO. It is an ganized the forum. important factor related to NAHO’s “There was a strong interest in work- upcoming renewal negotiations. Update on policy research at NAHO By Michael Martin James Lamouche, Policy Analyst with the Policy Research Unit (PRU), attended and helped organize an Elder’s Gathering in Little Buffalo, Alta., from April 2 to 5. This was done in support of the National Aboriginal Health Organization’s (NAHO) Object 5, which is to affirm and protect Aboriginal traditional healing practices. The gathering brought together Nehiyaw and a small number of Haudenosaunee Elders and healers. Lamouche also took part in exploratory discussions on April 2 in support of the Canadian Indigenous Biodiversity Network. Lamouche and Roberta Stout, also a Policy Analyst with the PRU, met with representatives of Pauktuutit Inuit Women’s Association and the Ajunnginiq Centre at NAHO. They met to discuss a possible collaboration on Inuit intellectual property issues for traditional knowledge, particularly for Inuit women’s knowledge. Lamouche took part in a teleconference with the Amazon Conservation Team. They discussed the possibility of a small group of representatives of the Union of Yage Healers of the Colombian Amazon to travel to Canada to meet with Elders and healers. The initial response was positive with some discussion of the necessary steps to take over the next few months. Also in progress, are the planning sessions in support of the International Elders Summit, scheduled for Aug. 27 to Sept. 1. Possible ways to provide support to the gathering were explored at the committee meeting in Six Nations, Ont. on April 18. April was very busy for PRU staff involved with interviewing and selecting six university students, hired to provide research and analysis support over the summer months. Work continues on NAHO’s Object 4, which is to increase the number of Aboriginal Peoples working in health care. Stout co-ordinated feedback and evaluation from NAHO’s centres on the request for proposals for the strategic framework. She also finalized revisions with NAHO’s Communications Unit on the discussion paper, Midwifery and Aboriginal Midwifery. On May 5, there was a meeting with the Dietitians of Canada to discuss work around their Aboriginal Nutrition Network. An information sheet on Aboriginal human health resources was developed for the May 3 public health roundtable organized by Health Canada. In furthering NAHO’s work on advancing cultural safety issues in health education, Stout and Downey attended the Aboriginal Medical Education Special Interest Group in Halifax on April 26. Dr. Malcolm King was the chairperson of that gathering. Stout and Downey also took part in the Partners Forum for the Social Accountability of Canadian Medical Schools, organized by the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges from April 27 to 28. Ongoing work by Yvonne Boyer, Policy Analyst/Legal Advisor at PRU, in support of Object 3, to facilitate and promote research and develop research partnerships, continues at a steady pace. Final edits are in progress for the Brief History of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Health Care and the Impact on Fiduciary Obligations. Ongoing edits, research and revisions on International Law and the Health of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, as well as the Legal Issues in Traditional Practices continue. Upcoming Events First Nations Nutrition and Health Conference June 17 to 18 Squamish Recreation Centre 100 Capilano Road, North Vancouver, BC For information, visit the conference website at www.aboriginalhealth.net. NAHO’s Second National Conference and Health Information Fair: Sharing Knowledge, Aboriginal Paths to Health Nov. 6 to 10 Winnipeg, Man. Winnipeg Convention Centre Includes adult and youth workshops. For more information, visit NAHO’s website at www.naho.ca. Unity Ride and Run May 1 to August 27 Beginning in Sioux Valley, Manitoba and finishing in Six Nations, Ontario For more information, visit www.mcmaster.ca/indigenous/ schedule2004.htm Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools May 7 to August 2 Exhibition at the Provincial Museum of Alberta. NAHO Bulletin The National Aboriginal Health Organization, an Aboriginal-designed and -controlled body, will influence and advance the health and well-being of Aboriginal Peoples through carrying out knowledge-based strategies. The NAHO Bulletin is an electronic publication produced monthly to provide readers with an update of the activities of NAHO and its Ajunnginiq, First Nations and Métis centres. If you have any questions or comments about NAHO or its publications, including having this and other publications sent directly to you, please contact us at: National Aboriginal Health Organization 56 Sparks Street, Suite 400 Ottawa, ON K1P 5A9 Phone: (613) 237-9462 ext. 510 Toll-free: 1-877-602-4445 Fax: (613) 237-1810 Website: www.naho.ca e-mail: naho@naho.ca Les versions françaises de cette publication sont disponibles sur demande. May 2004 The National Aboriginal Health Organization Bulletin Page 2 Ajunnginiq Centre 56 Sparks Street, Suite 400 Ottawa, ON K1P 5A9 Telephone: (613) 237-9462, toll-free: 1-877-602-4445 Fax: (613) 237-1810 Website: www.naho.ca/inuitcentre Building Inuit capacity in health research By Mark Buell In April, Ajunnginiq Centre Director Tracy O’Hearn traveled to Montreal to take part in a meeting of the Nasivvik Centre Advisory Board. The Nasivvik Centre is an Inuit-specific Aboriginal Capacity and Developmental Research Environments (ACADRE) Centre at Université Laval. The Nasivvik Centre is one of a network of ACADRE centres in Canada. Created by the Institute for Aboriginal Peoples’ Health, the ACADRE centres exist to develop regional Aboriginal capacity in all fields of health research and to develop a network of research centres dedicated to advancing Aboriginal capacity in health research. “The National Aboriginal Health Organization’s (NAHO) five objects include facilitating research partnerships and disseminating research information, and we also have responsibilities for building capacity,” O’Hearn said. “The work of the Nasivvik Centre is a great fit with our own work to foster the participation of Inuit in health research.” The focus of the Nasivvik Centre is to build Inuit capacity to do research on Inuit health and changing environments. The Ajunnginiq Centre has been a member of the Advisory Board since it was set up in 2003. Other member organizations include: Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Labrador Inuit Association, the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, the Makivik Corporation, and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. “It is important to have proper guidance and support from the active Inuit organizations, like the Ajunnginiq Centre, in where it is best to focus the activities and effort of the Nasivvik Centre to support the development of capacity for Inuit environmental health research,” said Chris Furgal, Co-Director of the Nasivvik Centre. “Creating this network of Inuit organizaMay 2004 The Nasivvik Centre Advisory Board includes (front row from left): Mary Denniston for Judy Rowell (Labrador Inuit Association), Minnie Grey (Nasivvik Centre’s past Chairperson, Makivik Corporation), Susie Bernier (Nasivvik Centre Coordinator), (back row) Tracy O’Hearn (Ajunnginiq Centre Director), Eric Loring (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami), Eric Dewailly (Nasivvik Centre Director), Neida Gonzalez (Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated), Mark Buell for Larry Gordon (Nasivvik Centre’s new Chairperson, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation), and Christopher Furgal (Nasivvik Centre Co-Director). Missing from photo: Stephanie Meakin (Inuit Circumpolar Conference). tions working together on such a critical issue is the only way the centre and Inuit regions will succeed in this important and challenging task.” Inuit have identified the lack of Inuit capacity in the health field as a priority issue. The Ajunnginiq Centre believes it is important to create and improve opportunities for Inuit to pursue health careers, including healthrelated research, and taking a leadership role in managing and providing health-care services in the Arctic. Policy Analysts Mark Buell and Karin Kettler are travelling to Fairbanks, Alaska. They are attending the Fifth International Congress on Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS V). This international event is held every three years. It brings people together from all over the world to share ideas about social science research in the Arctic. Kettler is making a presentation to the congress on her discussion paper, Building the Capacity of Inuit in the Health Field. Kettler’s paper highlights some of the needs, opportunities and barriers Inuit students face when considering an education in a health-related field. “Issues regarding Inuit working in the health field and the gaps or barriers to Inuit not going on to post-secondary schools need to be discussed,” Kettler said. “Hopefully presenting this information at ICASS will make people more aware.” ...continued on page 5 Page 3 The National Aboriginal Health Organization Bulletin Métis Centre 56 Sparks Street, Suite 400 Ottawa, ON K1P 5A9 Telephone: (613) 237-9462, toll-free: 1-877-602-4445 Fax: (613) 237-1810 Website: www.naho.ca/metiscentre First three fellowship recipients announced By Michael Fisher The Métis Centre is pleased to announce the first recipients of the Métis Centre fellowships. Métis graduate students Tricia Logan, Sandi Warren and Rae Mitten will each get $5000 to support their research in Métis population health. Tricia Logan, a student in Native Studies at the University of Manitoba, is researching Métis experiences in residential schools. “People are still in disbelief that Métis were involved in the schools,” Logan said. Her report, The Lost Generations: The Silent Métis of the Residential School System, was developed in association with the Manitoba Métis Federation. It is one of only a few written documents on the subject. Despite government policies suggesting otherwise, there is growing evidence Métis did attend residential schools. However, many survivors are reluctant to speak of their experiences. “At the very start,” Logan said, “some [community members] were saying, ‘How dare you bring it up?’ Yet others would say, ‘Thanks for bringing it up.’And after a while, momentum started to build and the more I started talking to people, others would become comfortable talking about it.” She noted part of doing community-based research is talking to people and building trust. This is not a standard research practice in western academe—researchers generally stay away from their research subjects. In an Aboriginal context, Elders tend to provide most research material. They give this through oral testimony while offering ethical guidance to researchers. “Elders are community touchstones. It is important to speak with them,” Logan said. “They hold the community’s history.” The challenge, she adds, “is to make these methods work in an academic setting.” Sandi Warren is a PhD student at Trent University’s Native Studies Program in Ontario. She has a Master’s degree in May 2004 Continuing Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies. Warren is researching social, cultural and economic indicators impacting the health of Métis families and communities. Her research focuses on intergenerational trauma and Métis youth aged 9 to 14 years. Using participatory action research, Warren will introduce cultural practices and traditions with community input and support to Métis youth at-risk to encourage individual change. Warren is tracking these hypothesized changes to determine how they impact the individual and community. The project will create community support networks focusing on Elders and youth. It will include Aboriginal perspectives on learning and teaching. Warren is working to create a “change model,” developed with the community and based on its experiences to help develop positive communities and revitalized Métis youth identities. Rae Mitten’s research focuses on holistic, community-based treatment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a global problem that affects many Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Mitten is working on an interdisciplinary PhD—combining law, psychology, education, and health medicine—at the University of Saskatchewan. She has an LLM degree from the university’s College of Law. Mitten is concerned with the lack of culturally appropriate treatment for people with FASD and their families. Her work looks at how Aboriginal spirituality and traditional healing in community-based treatment is preferable to prison for FASD offenders, noting Métis-specific needs and issues. Mitten teaches at the University of Saskatchewan’s Program of Legal Studies for Native Peoples. She has clerked with the Court of Appeal of Saskatchewan and worked as writer/editor for the First Nations and Metis Justice Reform Commission of Saskatchewan. Logan, Warren and Mitten will each write a paper over the summer months on their research topics in association with the Métis Centre. The Métis Centre gratefully acknowledges the support of Associate Professor Mike Evans from the Department of Anthropology at the Okanagan University College in B.C. Evans volunteered as an external judge for the Fellowship Program. Métis Centre welcomes new staff Leah Dorion has joined the Métis Centre as Research and Policy Officer. Dorion is Métis and has much experience in Aboriginal research, curriculum development and teaching. She has taught Métis History and Native Studies at the First Nations University of Canada (formerly the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College), Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) and the University of Saskatchewan. At the GDI, Dorion worked as a curriculum developer and publishing co-ordinator. Highlights of her work include publishing a Métis of Canada CD-ROM, a Métis legacy book project, numerous video productions, and the Drops of Brandy CD series and resource book. Dorion has served on various boards for Aboriginal education and publishing. She has developed and presented cross-cultural programming to youth and adult learners. She works out of Prince Albert, Sask. Stop by the Métis Centre and get reacquainted with Dawn OttereyesLacasse. Having successfully completed her first year of a three-year program in child and youth care at Algonquin College, she has returned to the centre for the summer. Welcome back, Dawn! Page 4 The National Aboriginal Health Organization Bulletin First Nations Centre 130 Albert Street, Suite 1500 Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4 Telephone: (613) 233-1543 ext. 501, toll-free: 1-877-602-4445 Fax: (613) 233-1853 Website: www.naho.ca/fnc, e-mail: fnc@naho.ca Building Inuit capacity ...continued from page 3 Kettler also hopes to make connections at the event with people who can do more research on Inuit education. Kettler’s paper is being released in May. Pauktuutit Inuit Women’s Association has set up a steering committee to guide a project on the respite needs of Inuit family caregivers in the North.The project will result in an Inuit-specific strategy to address those needs. Kettler and Executive Assistant Sipporah Enauraq observed a meeting of the steering committee inApril. The two-year project’s goal is to recognize the important contribution Inuit family caregivers provide. According to Pauktuutit President Veronica Dewar, “Pauktuutit has long been aware of the importance of providing relevant and practical health care information at the community level. The need for support to caregivers and their families has never been greater.” Due to the lack of health services, it is often family who provides care to ill or aging people in northern communities. This is demanding. It impacts the family, often Inuit women. For more information on this project, contact Geri Bailey at (613) 238-3977, ext. 24 or gbailey@pauktuutit.ca. The Ajunnginiq Centre’s Governing Committee met in Ottawa on April 16. They received updates on centre activities and an update from ITK, an important partner of the centre. The meeting also served as an orientation since there are some new Governing Committee members. The members are Bill Lyall (appointed by ITK), Larry Gordon (appointed by ITK), Miriam Lyall (appointed by the Labrador Inuit Association), Carol Arey (appointed by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation), Elena Labranche (appointed by the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services), and Annie Buchan (appointed by Pauktuutit Inuit Women’s Association). The Ajunnginiq Centre is distributing reports, including a discussion paper on alcohol treatment in the North as well as Kettler’s paper. To be added to the centre’s distribution list, e-mail Buell at mbuell@naho.ca or call him at 1-877-6024445, ext. 228. Page 5 Planning for upcoming year By Valerie Gideon The First Nations Centre (FNC) hosted its first Governing Committee meeting for 2004-05 in Ottawa on April 13. “Since we had not met since November, there was a mix of project updates and planning for the new year,” said Valerie Gideon, FNC Director. It is expected that the FNC’s main projects for this coming year will be helping the Assembly of First Nations develop a public health framework and a framework for information governance. The FNC will also undertake three key initiatives: a preliminary needs assessment for exploring models of quality maternity care in First Nations and Inuit communities; research on developing conceptual and applied models for First Nations research ethics and privacy; and a feasibility study for a survey on knowledge, attitudes and practices towards immunization in First Nations communities. “The immunization study is a project we are co-ordinating on behalf of the First Nations Information Governance Committee, like the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (RHS),” Gideon explained. “Of course, one of the biggest projects remains the RHS. This year, reports of the RHS results will be created and released.” “The Governing Committee’s support continues to be a key element of our success. Their experience and wisdom have meant a great deal to the FNC team,” Gideon stated. The FNC’s Governing Committee also met with the Governing Committees of the Ajunnginig Centre and Métis Centre. The Executive Director and May 2004 Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Health Organization’s (NAHO) Board of Directors also took part in the meeting. The meeting was held to share lessons learned and future priorities for the centres’ activities and operations. Governing Committees also brainstormed on ways of improving NAHO’s overall operations, products and services. In May, the FNC is making a presentation to the Chiefs Committee on Health in Edmonton on its end-of-year report. On behalf of NAHO, the FNC is also taking part in a meeting of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Committee on Information and Emerging Technologies in Whitehorse. The FNC is also attending the E-Health 2004 conference in Victoria. Later in May, a presentation is being made on the RHS as a model of First Nations-governed research. Jane Gray, RHS/Skills Enhancement Co-ordinator; Ceal Tournier, member of the FNC’s Governing Committee and coChairperson of the First Nations Information Governance Committee; Brian Schnarch, Co-ordinator of Research; and Martin Paul, RHS Regional Coordinator for Saskatchewan will make the presentation at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues of the United Nations in New York City. Gray is also delivering a similar presentation with Nadine Gros-Louis, memb e r o f t h e F N C ’s G o v e r n i n g Committee, to the United States Indian Health Services Annual Research Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The National Aboriginal Health Organization Bulletin