National Aboriginal Health Organization signs Collaborative Agreement with the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network

Ottawa, ON – Dr. Paulette C. Tremblay, CEO of the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), and Kevin Barlow, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN), today signed a collaborative agreement formalizing a partnership between their two organizations.

The two research-based organizations signed the document at an open house hosted by NAHO to further raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.



“One of NAHO’s main goals is to promote an understanding of the health issues affecting Aboriginal Peoples,” stated Dr. Tremblay. “As HIV/AIDS continues to grow among the First Nations, Inuit and Métis populations, it is important that individuals and communities have an understanding of this growing health concern.”



“As CAAN prepares to move full force into its national campaign to end HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination at the Canadian Aboriginal Festival this weekend, we are very excited to know that the National Aboriginal Health Organization will be involved in CAAN’s work to improve awareness of Aboriginal HIV/AIDS and its related issues,” said Barlow.

Barlow went on to say, “These types of partnerships are important to truly making a difference for the Aboriginal population, by way of supporting knowledge creation and finding effective ways to get this knowledge into our communities. NAHO is a key stakeholder in this regard.”

NAHO and CAAN intend to collaborate on specific projects of mutual interest, including publishing a joint issue of the Journal of Aboriginal Health with a specific focus on HIV/AIDS issues, developing awareness campaigns, assisting with each other’s projects and dissemination efforts, and more.

Special thanks to Steven Vanloffeld for emceeing and Natalie Dunleavy for photographing the event.

The 8th Canadian Immunization Conference

More than 1,200 immunization experts gathered at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto, Ontario from November 30 to December 3, 2008.

This conference brought together non-governmental organizations, vaccine manufacturers, provincial and territorial immunization policy and program planners, as well as professionals from the many disciplines involved in the immunization field.

I attended this conference to gain a broader understanding of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). While I have a strong background in health promotion, additional skills building in the areas of HPV epidemiology and vaccine developments was a valuable tool for me to acquire.

I found the plenary sessions, special lectures, the exhibit hall and the posters from Grade 6 students who expressed their ideas about immunization and healthy children to be very informative.

I even had the opportunity to participate in a lunchtime workshop about best practices on “How to Pack a Vaccine Cooler Bag” during mass immunization clinics and appropriate tools for vaccine transportation.

During a walk through the exhibit hall during lunch, I also met Gerri the Giraffe (pictured above) who promotes immunization in Ottawa.

Canadian Aboriginal Festival

Promoting the Journal of Aboriginal Health during the Canadian Aboriginal Festival at the Roger's Centre in Toronto, ON is one of my many tasks working the NAHO booth this weekend.

Also featured is NAHO's new pop-up banner.

Click here for more info on the Journal of Aboriginal Health

National Aboriginal Health Organization launches First Nations Children’s book

Today, the First Nations Centre (FNC) of the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) focused much of its health promotion efforts on children, through the launch of Our Healthy Journey, a First Nations children’s book at the Canadian Aboriginal Festival.

“With a young and growing First Nations population, investments in our children are of the highest priority,” asserts Dr. Paulette C. Tremblay, Chief Executive Officer of NAHO. “It is essential for our children to have culturally appropriate information so wise decisions can be made and the best opportunities for growth and development can be provided.”

Our Healthy Journey is a national project that was coordinated by the FNC. This book introduces health issues to First Nations children through a child-friendly information resource. First Nations children were engaged in this project through an art contest. Twenty-seven works of art were chosen for the book from First Nations children from across Canada.

“The First Nations Centre of NAHO is working to fill in the information gaps of the social determinants of health affecting the well-being of our children,” explains Earl Nowgesic, Director of the FNC. “The art pieces submitted by First Nations children for the book are outstanding and demonstrate the perspectives of how First Nations children and youth understand their own health.”

Our Healthy Journey promotes an understanding of health that encompasses the holistic and balanced development of individuals and communities.

During the book launch at the Canadian Aboriginal Festival, Our Healthy Journey was endorsed by special guest, National Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations.

The resource is intended for educators, health practitioners, families, and communities to encourage healthy lifestyles that also reflect First Nations culture.

Special thanks to Steven Vanloffeld for emceeing and Sean Jacquemain for photographing the event.

River of the Sacred Fire

As I prepare to leave for the airport, I reflect on the week gone by. Looking outside, I fully understand the meaning of the word Elsipogtog - River of the Sacred Fire. I am told it refers to "the red blazing reflection of the setting sun which appears seemingly like fire". I cannot help but wonder though if it also refers to the sunrise?

Women's Teachings

When women gather together great things can happen. When a safe space is created for sharing and healing, stories begin to emerge. Today it was stories of child birth, puberty rights, moon teachings and menopause. Concerns and realities that we all share, yet often push aside to address more pressing issues, became the focal point of conversation.

It is in these all women spaces that the knowledge and stories often emerge. Each woman in the room bonded to the other by virtue of the fact that women were given the gift to be able to birth life. So much of the teachings that women share co-exist with this fact.

As we close the circle, if there is one fundamental lesson to take away, it is the importance of respecting yourself and your body.

NAHO's Journal of Aboriginal Health March 2008 Volume 4, Issue 1 is focused on Aboriginal Women's Health. To view a copy click here.

Prophecies

This afternoon as I sat in a teepee close to the fire, I could feel my cheeks heating up from the flames. As I listened to the prophecies being shared with me I understood that the future is deeply rooted in the past. Many of the ways of our traditional Elders are based on living a life free of chemical additives and substances that are destructive to our very being and environment.

The advice being put forward to us is to make decisions not from a place of fear but a place of well-being. We were being asked to breathe in a sense of calmness and really think about the information being presented to us. If we don’t like it, then maybe it is not meant for us. If it applies to us and is useable then we have benefitted from their messages and wisdom.

There are many ways to know if a certain path is right for us. We can dream it, someone could encourage us to develop our strengths or we could just know. Much of what this week had to offer is a place to be quiet in our noisy world and just listen and reflect.

We were told many times this week to listen to our heart and believe in its truth.

To review The Haudenosaunee Code of Behaviour for Traditional Medicine Healers click here