Overview
As of 2001, 976,305 people in Canada identified themselves as Aboriginal (3% of Canadians). Seventy percent of Aboriginal people live off reserve; 62% identify themselves as Indian, 30% as Métis and 4% as Inuit. Canada's aboriginal population is diverse in ancestry, history and culture. There are 630 First Nations (Bands), comprising 52 Nations or cultural groups and more than 50 languages. While the overall health status of Aboriginal people in Canada is not as high as the population generally, it has improved over the last 20 years. Significant improvements have been made in various aspects of Aboriginal health; for example, infant death rates and the death rate from circulatory disease are decreasing, cancer death rates among Aboriginal people are lower than the national average, and communicable disease is coming under control.
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Selected Readings
Harm Reduction Policies and Programs for Persons of Aboriginal Descent [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), June 2007
First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (RHS) 2002/03 [PDF]
First Nations Centre, National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), November 2005
Parents Be Aware - Sniffing KillsCanadian Health Network (CHN), November 2005
Designing a Tool to Measure the Impact of Client Length of Stay on Treatment Outcome: Overview [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), May 2005
Resiliency and Holistic Inhalant Abuse Treatment [PDF]
Journal of Aboriginal Health, National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), March 2005
Alcohol Problems and Approaches: Theories, Evidence and Northern Practice [PDF]
Ajunnginiq Centre, National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), June 2004
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Among Aboriginal People in Canada: Review and Analysis of the Intergenerational Links to Residential Schools [PDF]
Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF), 2003
Literature Review: Evaluation Strategies in Aboriginal Substance Abuse Programs: A Discussion First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Health Canada, 1999
Related Resources
Organizations
Aboriginal Capacity and Developmental Research Environments (ACADRE)
Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health (IAPH)
National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)
National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation (NNAPF)
National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP)
National Network for Aboriginal Mental Health Research (NAMHR)
Youth Solvent Addiction Committee (YSAC)
Resources
First Nations and Inuit Health (FNIH) - Health Canada Reports & Publications
Aboriginal Peoples: Mental Health & Substance Misuse: Selected Bibliography, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Territorial Resource, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA)
Treatment Centre Directory: National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP) and National Youth Solvent Abuse Program (NYSAP)
Where Are the Children - Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools, The Legacy of Hope Foundation, Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF)