Dakelh Territory/Prince George, BC - Two new federally fundedinitiatives at the University of Northern British Columbia willincrease knowledge of environmental health issues in First Nationscommunities across Canada, and aim to improve health outcomes for thesecommunities.

"The Government of Canada is pleased to provide $11 million over tenyears for the study and $100,000 a year ongoing for the network," saidthe Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, federal Minister of Health. "Theseinitiatives are important because they contribute to improving healthoutcomes in First Nations communities by increasing capacity andfilling important gaps in research related to food, the environment andhealth."

The University of Northern British Columbia is housing two newinitiatives under the leadership of Dr. Laurie Chan, who holds the BCLeadership Chair in Aboriginal Environmental Health. The First NationsFood, Nutrition, and Environment Study is a multi-year study with 100randomly selected First Nation communities across Canada.  Thestudy is aimed at increasing knowledge on the benefits, as well aspossible risks, of food and water being consumed in First Nationscommunities.  To this end, information will be gathered on suchaspects as:  the current use of traditional and store bought food;food security (availability and affordability of safe, nutritiousfood); levels of both nutrients and environmental chemicals in manytraditional foods; heavy metals in drinking water; pharmaceuticalby-products in surface water; and mercury levels in hair.

“Our people’s health is largely determined by the food we gather on theland,” said BC AFN Regional Chief Shawn Atleo. “Our ancestors had verylow rates of diseases and lived long healthy lives.  We need ourtraditional foods to be safe and accessible in order to improve healthin our communities.”

> Click here for more information about the study 

The First Nations Environmental Health Innovation Network is a virtualnetwork affiliated with the National Collaborating Centre forAboriginal Health, which seeks to connect environmental healthresearchers with First Nations communities across Canada to buildresearch capacity by providing First Nations with a ‘one-stop-shop’ onenvironmental health issues.  The Network is a partnership-basedinitiative made up of nine founding partners, one of which is theAssembly of First Nations.  Both of the projects are funded byHealth Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch.

> Click here for more information about the network

“First Nations care about the safety of drinking water, chemicalcontaminants in the traditional food supply, water and soilcontamination, indoor air quality and household mould. We hope toprovide services to communities in need, and to bring awareness at theacademic, regional and national levels on these important healthissues,” said Dr. Laurie Chan.  “First Nations have told us theywant to make informed decisions on their environment.  To do thiswe need both sound scientific research and traditional knowledge - ourprojects are about balancing the two.”


Contact:
Dr. Laurie Chan, BC Leadership Chair in Aboriginal Environmental Health, UNBC (250) 960-5237
Regional Chief Shawn Atleo (604) 837-6908
Health Canada Media Relations (613) 957-2983
University of Northern BC Communications (250) 960-5622  

 Media Download

Click on the thumbnail below to download a high-resolution photo of Dr. Laurie Chan.