Projects aim to improve quality of life in aboriginal communities

In an effort to improve community wellness and personal empowerment, the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network is embarking on a pair of two-year culturally based projects.

The first, Empowering Aboriginal Women: Influencing Community Wellness, is designed to address violence awareness and prevention in 18 western and central communities with a series of workshops.
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Metis health study results troubling

Manitoba Metis residents are 21% more likely than others in the province to die before the age of 75.

That's among several troubling findings about Metis health in a study conducted by researchers at the University of Manitoba.
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Inuit TB strategy needed: report

A House of Commons committee report calls for an Inuit-specific tuberculosis strategy in Canada's North, where the infection rate is high among Inuit.

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City aboriginals making gains United Way report shows less poverty, rising salaries

A new statistical snapshot of Winnipeg's aboriginal people released by the United Way Wednesday shows poverty is down, salaries and employment are up and more First Nations, Métis and Inuit people are graduating from high school and post-secondary institutions.
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Esgenoôpetitj First Nation welcomes anti-violence program

Members of the Esgenoôpetitj First Nation are welcoming a new program aimed at reducing relationship violence among aboriginal youth.

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Kaiser Foundation Presents Ilisaqsivik Society with a National Mental Health and Addictions Award

As part of the Kaiser Foundation’s fifth annual National Awards for Excellence Program, the Premier of Nunavut, Honorable Eva Aariak, today presented the award for Excellence in Community Programming to Jake Gearheard, Executive Director of Ilisaqsivik Society based in Clyde River, Nunavut.

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2010 - 2011 National Aboriginal Role Models Announced

The National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) is proud to celebrate the announcement of 12 new national Aboriginal Role Models for 2010-2011.

The National Aboriginal Role Models for 2010-2011 are:

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The BCMA Congratulates Three Outstanding Award Recipients for Their Extraordinary Efforts Promoting Health and Safety in British Columbia

For 12 years the Seabird Island Health Centre has improved the health, wellness and safety of 11 First Nation communities in the eastern Fraser Valley and southern BC. The center has an integrated approach to health care and has developed a mobile diabetes initiative, dental centre, doctor's clinic with two aboriginal doctors, nurse's clinic, healthy baby clinic, mental health services and an optometry clinic. It aims to promote a healthier, self-sufficient, self governing, unified and educated community that believes a healthy community is one that has achieved a physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and cultural balance.

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Food Gardens Sprouting In First Nations Communities

VICTORIA – B.C. is helping to provide First Nations communities with better access to fresh vegetables by funding 17 food gardens in the most remote communities, said Ida Chong, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport.

“Eating fruits and vegetables often is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said Chong. “Through the First Nations food garden grants, we’re helping communities to best manage their health by educating and enabling them to grow a sustainable food garden that will regularly provide fresh vegetables and fruits grown right in their own backyard.”

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Health Canada urged to improve plan to fight TB on reserves

Health Canada must improve its plan to fight tuberculosis and set clear targets to reduce the disproportionately high rates of the disease in First Nations and Inuit communities, according to a report released Tuesday.
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Dangerous MRSA “superbug” creeps into Nunavut

Arviat infection rate 30 times the national average. Dr. Bruce Martin, of the University of Manitoba’s Northern Medical Unit, describes the hard-to-treat problem as an “emerging infection,” meaning it’s fairly new, getting worse and no one quite knows what’s going to happen next.
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Nunavut plans info campaign to ease health benefits confusion

To help Nunavummiut better understand what health care benefits the Government of Nunavut does and does not offer, Nunavut’s health department plans to launch a public information campaign.
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Métis Nation praises Manitoba Access Awareness Week

Métis National Council (MNC) President Clément Chartier is commending the Province of Manitoba for proclaiming May 30 to July 5, 2010 Manitoba Access Awareness Week. The week will be celebrated with several events intended to raise awareness of the barriers faced by persons with disabilities.
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Mid Island Metis Community Celebrates Health Enhancement Initiative

Nanaimo, BC - On June 19th, 2010 Mid Island Metis Nation will kick off their Health Enhancement Program with the first of six health information workshops.

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First Nations child welfare reforms promised

New Brunswick's child and youth advocate is offering tacit approval for a pilot project that is meant to improve child welfare services on First Nations communities.
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ITK launches blue light campaign to combat tobacco

Non-smoking Inuit homes in Canada will glow blue over the coming year to signal their household’s commitment to go smoke-free, said Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, in Ottawa at the May 31 launch of two new programs aimed at reducing smoking rates and improving the health of families, infants and new mothers.
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The Government of Canada Announces Project that Supports Smoking Cessation in First Nation Communities

Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament for Desnethe - Missinippi - Churchill River, today announced, on behalf of Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, just over $165,000 in funding to Battlefords Tribal Council Indian Health Services Inc. to reduce smoking rates in First Nations and increase the knowledge about the dangers of tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
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