Foreword from the Assembly of Manitoba ChiefsAuthor(s): Ron EvansSource: Canadian Journal of Public Health / Revue Canadienne de Sante'e Publique, Vol. 96,SUPPLEMENT 1: Aboriginal Health Research and Policy: First Nations-University Collaborationin Manitoba (JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005), pp. S7-S8Published by: Canadian Public Health AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41994440 .

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FOREWORDS

Foreword from the Manitoba Ministry of Health

Honourable Dave Chomiak Minister of Health, Province of Manitoba

For has Centre

over

been for ten

providing Health years,

Policy the

accurate

Manitoba (MCHP)

and Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) has been providing accurate and

timely information to health care decision- makers, analysts and health care providers, so that policies, programs and services intended to improve the health of Manitobans can be efficaciously designed and implemented. MCHP delivers lead- ing-edge research in the areas of health ser- vice utilization, health and illness patterns in the population, and the factors that affect health, all of which are critical to informing the health policy process.

First Nations comprise a significant por- tion of Manitoba's population, with unique and diverse cultures. There has been a growing interest among Manitoba's First Nations and Manitoba's policy- makers and researchers in the health and well-being of First Nations as the signifi- cant health disparities experienced by First Nations continue to be a major issue. The Aboriginal community, including First

Nations, is a priority population for Manitoba Health.

With the goal of better understanding the health of Manitoba First Nations, Manitoba Health asked MCHP to provide a report on the health and use of health services of Registered First Nations in Manitoba. MCHP was uniquely suited to perform this task given their ability to pro- duce high-caliber scientific research rele- vant to the policy process. To ensure that the research developed by MCHP met the needs of both Manitoba Health and Manitoba's First Nations, the MCHP and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs estab- lished an advisory group of representatives from the First Nations community, clini- cians, researchers, policy-makers and gov- ernment representatives. As a result of this joint effort, MCHP produced an encyclo- pedic report on the health of First Nations in Manitoba, on which some of the papers in this supplement are based. The MCHP report was key in identifying First Nations'

health needs within the province and underscored the importance of having province-wide information when designing and developing programs for First Nations.

On behalf of the Manitoba Ministry of Health, I congratulate MCHP on produc- ing this supplement focussing on the health of First Nations, and hope it can serve as a model for other jurisdictions attempting to better understand the health of First Nations and their use of health ser- vices. Such information is critical for mon- itoring and evaluating existing programs and policies aimed at improving the health of First Nations. Research by MCHP has gained national and international attention because of its outstanding quality and con- tributions to understanding health issues and disparities.

I also wish to acknowledge the pivotal role the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs played in facilitating the research undertaken by MCHP and the completion of this supple- ment. Without their support and involve- ment, this important work would not have been possible. The First Nations in Manitoba have been strong and critical part- ners in the health research involving First Nations, and their commitment has been the foundation for any success achieved.

Foreword from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

Chief Ron Evans

Norway House Cree Nation AMC Executive member and Health Portfolio Chief

This Assembly collaborative

publication

of Manitoba

is efforts the result

Chiefs of

of

and the the

collaborative efforts of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and

the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba and the Centre for Aboriginal Health Research to highlight the health status of Aboriginal people and the health issues that many continue to face on a daily basis. Working in conjunction with the First Nation orga- nization and university-based academic researchers, Manitoba First Nations have taken lead role in ensuring health research conducted in Aboriginal communities will

benefit everyone. This is an opportunity to share the results of some of the research that has been conducted on Aboriginal health through the Canadian Journal of Public Health.

We believe that research partnerships, such as those described within this supple- ment, will assist First Nations and all Aboriginal peoples in developing the struc- tures and services needed to promote whole health in our communities. There is no issue more important than the health of our peoples. It is a sacred truth in our way of life that we must acknowledge the spiritual,

physical, mental and emotional aspects of daily living to protect long-term well-being.

There is a direct and strong relationship between self-determination and health. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is pur- suing the path of re-asserting First Nations jurisdiction and strengthening our own government structures, so that we return decision-making to our own people. Every day we are confronted by statistics telling the story of ill-health of our people. The path to holistic health as our people see it is not through the present system of ser- vices that Health Canada and the province deliver, only as they see fit. Instead, it will require respect for our T reaty and inherent right to health. Yet we remain in the shad- ows when decisions are made on our behalf, often to our detriment. We must be directly involved in decisions by Crown governments which affect First Nations lives.

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2005 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH S 7

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FOREWORDS

I commend the work of the AMC Health Information Committee, the Manitoba First Nations Centre for

Aboriginal Health Research, the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (University of Manitoba), and the many individuals

whose work and commitment to positive change for our people are described within.

Ekosoni.

Foreword from the CI HR Institute

of Aboriginal Peoples' Health

Jeff Reading, PhD Scientific Director

Whereas lived reports

experience

a have plethora

investigated of

of

indigenous

research the reports have investigated the

lived experience of indigenous peoples living in Canada and abroad, few have struck the important balance between the pursuit of community health priorities and the pursuit of the highest standards of research excellence. This special supple- ment to the Canadian Journal of Public Health (CJPH), sponsored by Health Canada, is proof that such goals can be met exceedingly well. It provides direct research evidence that aims to stimulate strategic healthy public policy actions with the ultimate goal of improving on the pro- found disparity in health experienced by Aboriginal peoples of Canada.

The lesson learned by the process of community engagement, from the initial development of research priorities to the final sharing of results seen in this CJPH supplement, is that thoughtful, passionate community leaders working with skilled researchers can indeed shape research

products into effective health transforma- tion packages where information possesses the power to improve health. Knowledge gained through research shared by com- munities needs to be translated into action for such a transformation to occur in the health of populations. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research recognize the critical importance of Knowledge Translation (KT) across all fields of advanced health research and defines it as:

"the exchange , synthesis and ethically sound application of knowledge - with- in a complex system of interactions among researchers and users - to acceler- ate the capture of benefits for Canadians through improved healthy more effective health services and a strengthened health care system Clearly, the editors have taken great care

to arrange the articles in a sequenced order so that the reader is carried through a jour- ney to discover new understandings that

are based on groundwork laid by earlier papers. Thus, I encourage everyone inter- ested in Aboriginal/indigenous health issues, both in Canada and abroad, to take a careful read of this series of manuscripts, and assess its value both in terms of process and evidence contained within its parts and as a whole.

That Aboriginal community research needs to find a voice in national and interna- tional journals seems obvious. Yet this sim- ple idea, expressed in elegant community- partnered research, underscores that the starting point to be recognized and pur- sued by progressive public health science journals such as the CJPH can be achieved with outstanding results. One key is to rec- ognize the thoroughly multi-, inter- and cross-disciplinary nature of Aboriginal community-based inquiry.

The authors present many important themes in research domains as diverse as history, research policy environment and capacity building, and an Aboriginal holis- tic world view of health and well-being, all investigated using appropriate qualitative and quantitative research tools in a search for new understanding. CJPH is to be con- gratulated for its vision and commitment to translating Aboriginal health research and supporting the legitimate aspirations of Aboriginal peoples for the attainment of optimal health and well-being.

S8 REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTÉ PUBLIQUE VOLUME 96, SUPPLÉMENT 1

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