The funding announced by Health Minister John Nilson will support research projects in key areas of Aboriginal health, including chronic diseases, Indigenous healing, health delivery, disease prevention and environmental health. It will also increase opportunities for people of Aboriginal ancestry to pursue health-related research and training.
The centre is lead by the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC), in partnership with the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan.
The province is providing $225,000 in the current fiscal year, followed by annual payments of $500,000 from 2003-04 to 2007-08.
“Aboriginal peoples inside and outside Saskatchewan will benefit from research that focuses directly on their unique health needs,’’ Nilson said. “We know that economic status, family supports, individual behaviour and other factors outside the traditional health sector have a major effect on our health.’’
The centre will allow Aboriginal people to assume a greater role in finding solutions to their own health needs, while enhancing community-generated Indigenous research throughout Saskatchewan.
“The mission of the centre is to improve the health of Aboriginal people by investing in capacity recognition and capacity building with Aboriginal people, communities and institutions,” SIFC President Dr. Eber Hampton said. “We have the opportunity to ensure that traditional knowledge and indigenous values are foundational to the vision and the future success of this centre.’’
The provincial funding will augment a $3-million grant over six years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), through its Institute of Aboriginal Peoples Health.
“The province’s contribution is an essential component for establishing a new research centre with the capacity to serve the whole province,” University Co-ordinator of Health Research Bruce Waygood said. “This investment almost doubles an award from CIHR, and should lead to a significant increase in community-driven health research.’’
The centre funded 19 undergraduate student research awards in 2002, along
with five year-long graduate student research fellowships. A minimum of
20 undergraduate research awards will be funded in the summer of 2003,
along with additional graduate student fellowships.
“
The investments in trainee support have already demonstrated significant
success both in terms of volume of students supported and the quality of
their work,’’ Acting Director of the Indigenous Peoples Health
Research Centre Ralph Nilson said. “The excitement in the community
and in the institutions for working together on Aboriginal Health research
is growing rapidly as the word gets out.”
For more information, contact:
Vanessa Gooliaff Beaupre
Health Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4083
Jody Burnett
IPHRC
Phone: (306) 337-2461
Kristina Bergen
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Phone: (306) 966-2427
Therese Stecyk
University of Regina
Regina
Phone: (306) 585-4683
Other related documents: Media Backgrounder
Current Undergraduate Student Projects