Health Watch - May 2014

Fort Chipewyan First Nations push for cancer study

The public release of ongoing work undertaken by Cancer Control Alberta has local First Nations enraged. The work declared that although certain cancers are prevalent in the region, which is steeped in tarsands development, none are due to environmental concerns. Local chiefs are angry that the report was released to the public and not to the First Nations or their councils. Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, the Mikisew Cree First Nation and Nunee Health Authority had asked for an advanced copy of the report from the government but had been denied. They sought the information through a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which was filed by the Liberal Party. Alberta Chief Medical Officer Dr. James Talbot then released the information publicly. Athabasca Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam said in a news release that “not only was this research and study done without our direct participation, we were left in the dark about key findings and the announcement of the release to the public.” The chiefs are now calling for a study because statistics released by Talbot show that lung, cervical and bile duct cancers were higher than the provincial average. “Getting money to fund an independent study is definitely something we are seriously looking at and discussing,” Chief Steve Courtoreille of the Mikisew Cree First Nation told Fort McMurray Today.

Cancer has become the second-highest cause of death in the Inuit population. The Inuit Cancer Control in Canada Baseline Report provides context for the cancer pathway for Inuit and includes information on promising practices across the cancer control continuum. It looks at the patient experience from screening and diagnosis through to survivorship or palliative care, as well as challenges experienced by Inuit patients throughout their cancer journey. “The necessity of medical travel, health human resources shortages and lack of culturally relevant resources and services present significant barriers to effective cancer control,” said Lee Fairclough, vice-president, Strategy, Knowledge Management and Delivery at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. This baseline report is part of a series of reports released by the partnership to further examine emerging priorities for action among First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

Partners in the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy have announced a one-year extension to the first phase of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan. Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Government of Nunavut, the RCMP and the Embrace Life Council formed the partnership in 2008. The strategy was released in 2010 and the accompanying action plan in 2011. “There is no easy fix to this terrible crisis, but NTI and our partners in this strategy know that we need additional time to evaluate the action plan, to learn from what was accomplished and to incorporate these important lessons into our work as we move on to full implementation of the strategy. This partnership is essential. It will continue until we find meaningful solutions that reduce suicide in Nunavut,” said NTI President Cathy Towtongie. Since beginning work on the action plan, the partners have addressed knowledge and service gaps in mental health and suicide prevention in Nunavut. In addition, considerable progress has been made on all eight commitments outlined in the action plan.

The province of Ontario is doubling its support for three successful health promotion programs run by Aboriginal organizations and tailored to their unique cultural traditions and knowledge. The programs, Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living Program, offered by the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, the Healthy Eating and Active Living program, delivered by the Aboriginal Health Access Centres, and the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program, through partnership with the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, all provide hands-on experience such as access to community kitchens and gardens, school and family-based healthy eating and physical activity programs, and recreational activities such as sport and dance, which incorporate traditional cultural practices. The government is providing $4.3 million to expand the healthy eating and active living programs, and another $2.2 million over four years to support the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program.