Indigenous Health Research Centre Receives Provincial Funding

Posted February 20, 2003


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Feb. 20, 2003

Prepared by Saskatchewan Health and University of Saskatchewan Research
Communications

INDIGENOUS HEALTH RESEARCH CENTRE RECEIVES PROVINCIAL FUNDING

The new Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre (IPHRC) received a funding
boost today of $2.725 million over six years.

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 led 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."

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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


MEDIA BACKGROUNDER

Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre (IPHRC)

The Centre
The centre is collaboration between the Saskatchewan Indian Federated
College, the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan. It
also has broad support from various Aboriginal health organizations and
boards, such as the Northern Inter-tribal Health Authority, northern health
authorities and other health authorities with significant Metis or
Indigenous clients.

The centre is designed to promote health research among Aboriginal people
through trainee support.

The Research
The centre was created to establish an environment that will encourage an
increase in health research focused on Indigenous health issues. Four key
areas of aboriginal health have been identified for further research. They
are:

- Chronic diseases, nutrition and lifestyle;

- Indigenous healing in areas of addiction, FAS, mental health and the
judicial system;

- Health delivery and control, including areas of ethics, community
development and governance; and

- Prevention and environmental health.

All research projects by IPHRC shall be done in co-operation with
communities. Currently, there have been five applications approved for
graduate study work and 20 for undergraduate student projects. (See attached
list.)

The People
- A/Director of IPHRC - Dr. Ralph Nilson
- President of SIFC - Dr. Eber Hampton
- Co-ordinator of Health Research for Saskatchewan Universities - Dr. Bruce
Waygood

The IPHRC Board will have a majority of indigenous nominees. The board also
intends to encourage the appointment of indigenous researchers and core
staff.

The Funding
The Saskatchewan government has committed approximately $2.725 million over
five years to IPHRC - $225,000 in 2002/03, and $500,000 in each of the next
five years.

In January 2002, the centre received a commitment of $3 million over six
years from the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples Health, a member of the
Canadian Institutes of Health Research