 The pervasive problem of injury among Aboriginal people is a concern paramount to communities across Canada. There are certain jurisdictional boundaries which can affect legal and political structures and agreements that limit how Aboriginal people work to together to combat the growing concern of intentional and unintentional injury in their communities. In acknowledgment of the limitations and boundaries, a coordinated effort was needed to concentrate injury prevention efforts on areas specific to Aboriginal people. To create a collective effort needed for injury prevention, The National First Nations and Inuit Injury Prevention Working Group (NFNIIPWG) was established to provide guidance and injury prevention and control for First Nations and Inuit in Canada. The group, with Secretariat support from the FNIHB, is dedicated to the development and promotion of a national framework for injury prevention and control which is culturally relevant to First Nations and Inuit populations. The Working Group will also focus on completing ongoing work on injury related issues. The basis of the Working Group process involves a consultative process, which means that the group will seek advice from important stakeholders representing organizations within different regions, provinces or territories across Canada. Membership within the group represents all regions in Canada and is based on knowledge, expertise and advocacy necessary to forward work on injury prevention. The Working Group held its inaugural meeting in February 2000 and supports mobilization and action on injury among First Nations and Inuit people at all levels including national, provincial/territorial, regional and community levels. At the initial meeting, it was determined that as part of their role as the "national voice" for injury prevention, it was critical to establish strategic and collaborative linkages. This means creating and maintaining active partnerships that leverage and build upon existing and emerging opportunities for action. The Working Group wants to create a high level of visibility of the Aboriginal injury problem in Canada and to create awareness that Aboriginal people constitute a high-risk population in terms of injuries. The NFNIIPWP's Vision: to unite in creating injury free and safe communities for today and tomorrow The NFNIIPWP's Mission: to develop and guide a coordinated injury prevention journey The (NFNIIPWP) will establish regular planning meetings over the course of 2000/2001. The focus of efforts will be to mature the development of a culturally appropriate and relevant injury prevention framework by: + gathering input in the development of the injury prevention framework; + developing communication strategies to keep the Aboriginal community of Canada informed about the work of the NFNIIPWP and mobilized in injury prevention; + determining and establishing appropriate linkages to other strategies, which have a clear connection to injury, such as the national strategy on disabilities; + determining linkages appropriate to the development of an overall Canadian Framework for Injury Prevention and Control; and + developing strategies and building a strong case to establish 'injury' as a health priority at national, regional, provincial/territorial levels. The next meeting of the working
group will be held Tuesday February 6th and Wednesday February
7th, 2001 in Ottawa. Next meeting agenda items will include: 6TH WORLD CONFERENCE INJURY PREVENTION AND CONTROL From May 12 to 15, 2002, Canada has been honoured as the host of the 6th World Conference Injury Prevention and Control. The Convention Centre in Montreal has been chosen as the locale for this important gathering - the first conference of its kind for the world's francophone community. The theme of the conference will be "Injuries, Suicide, and Violence: Building Knowledge, Policies and Practices to Promote a Safer World". The 6th World Conference Injury
Prevention and Control is an initiative of the World Health Organization.
Its goal is to "promote the dissemination of new knowledge,
intensify the exchange between research, theory and practice,
attract new public and private partners as well as mobilize stakeholders,
decision-makers and the public toward safety". The main
conference subjects will be: Within the 6th World Conference, The National First Nations and Inuit Injury Prevention Working Group (NFNIIPWG) has place a formal request to the Scientific Planning Committee of this event to ensure that an issues for Aboriginal people will be incorporated into the conference agenda. The Conference format will include plenary sessions, round table sessions, oral presentations, poster/audio visual presentations, ad hoc meetings, symposia, technical/site visits, satellite conferences and networking opportunities. For more information, visit the Conference Web site http://www.trauma2002.com. INJURY PREVENTION RESOURCES Web Sites
Injury Prevention/Substance Directory,
Thunder Bay District Health Unit - http://www.tbdhu.on.ca/Injurdir.htm Injury Prevention and Control,
Peterborough County-City Health Unit - http://www.ptbo.igs.net/~pcchu/ipsite/index.htm References
McTimoney, David (1993). A Resource Guide for Family Violence Issues for Aboriginal Communities. Ottawa: National Clearinghouse on Family Violence. Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Ministry of Supply and Services Canada. 1996.
Health Canada (1996). Trends in First Nations Mortality, 1979-1993. Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. Statistics Canada (1997). Mortality.
Summary List of Causes, 1995. Health Statistics Statistics Canada. Mortality Tables, Canada & Provinces, 1985-1987. Catalogue No. 82-003S. Statistics Canada. Life Expectancy at Birth. Catalogue no. 82-221-XDE. http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/People/Health/health26.htm. |
