ABORIGINAL
HEALTH FORUM

• How First Nations Health Policy and the Health Transfer Policy have affected Aboriginal health care
• Health promotion and disease prevention — promising developments
• Improving public health services on-reserve through multi jurisdictional cooperation and innovation — new care delivery models
• Addressing the burden of chronic disease in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities through the development of Aboriginal specific resources
• Implementing harm reduction in Aboriginal communities — case studies and lessons learned
• Urban Aboriginal health: latest programs and services
• Addressing community violence and related health issues
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: from prevention to intervention
• Achieving success on chronic kidney disease screening, identification and management
• Meeting recruitment and retention challenges for Aboriginal staff in hospital settings
• Aboriginal health models, best practices and case studies: cross–cultural collaborative models
• Update on the telehealth program — focussing investments in First Nations and Inuit communities
• The emergence of the integrated continuum of care through e-health

PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS

Chief R. Donald Maracle
Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte

Chief Joel Abram
Oneida Nation of the Thames

SPONSOR

MARKETING PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNER

• Chiefs, Community Leaders and Band Council Members:
  
• Health Directors, Health Coordinators, Tribal and Band Health Officers
• Medical/Nurse Practitioners
• Traditional Healers
• Medical Officers of Health, Directors of Health Protection
• Regional Health Officers
• Social Services Workers (e.g. substance abuse or mental health)
• Health Care: Technicians, Policy Analysts and Advisors
• Aboriginal Health Care Directors and Managers
• Health Policy Managers (diabetes, HIV, mental health, substance abuse, elder care)

• Representatives from:
  
• Government Including Health Ministries and Departments
• Regions/Regional Health Authorities
• Health Information and Data Providers
• Privacy Regulators and Commissioners
• Medical Researchers and Academics
• Associations and Medical Colleges
• Law Firms (Aboriginal Health)
• Consulting Firms – Health Care Divisions
• Medical Industry Suppliers
• Medical and Pharmaceutical Equipment and Product Suppliers
• Technology Systems Companies Involved in Medical Technology or Medical Records
• Medical Related Software Companies (electronic health records)

Dear Colleague,

The expansion and improvement of health care services for Aboriginal communities is crucial in order to address health care disparities, reduce inequities and improve health outcomes. Together we will examine important positive developments, including community-based and traditional approaches to health care that many health practitioners believe are essential to a successful health care delivery framework for Aboriginal Nations in Canada.

This Insight Information conference will explore the latest challenges, solutions and best practices in Aboriginal health care. You will hear about best practices in primary prevention methodology for early identification and chronic disease management using a multidisciplinary approach.

Learn how to recognize the intergenerational links and address the effects of substance abuse, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, residential schools negligence and abuse and about the techniques to end the cycle of poverty and illness. Join in the dialogue and hear current case studies on illness prevention and health promotion.

Focusing on the daunting human resources challenges we face, you will learn about mechanisms being put in place to ensure successful recruitment and retention of Aboriginal staff in hospitals and other health care institutions. In addition, hear about the technological solutions being put in play and the latest on the implementation of eHealth and tele-health systems that are crucial for addressing urban rural disparities and improving Aboriginal health outcomes. The promise of these systems for supporting key goals in health care revitalization is vast.

Take advantage of the networking luncheons and informal breaks that provide opportunities to make new contacts and exchange information on these important initiatives. Represented on the faculty are many of the stakeholders and leaders moving the agenda forward in these important areas of Aboriginal Health.

Chief R. Donald Maracle 
Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte

Chief Joel Abram
Oneida Nation of the Thames

Monday, May 17, 2010

8:15

Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00

Elder’s Opening Prayer and Welcoming Remarks from Insight Information

9:05

Co-Chair’s Opening Remarks

Chief Donald Maracle 
Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte

9:15

First Nations Health Policy or Aboriginal Health Policy in Canada?

Angela Mashford-Pringle
PhD Candidate, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto
Program Consultant
Aboriginal & Southern Ontario Areas
Health Canada

• Indian Health Policy
• Health Transfer Policy
• How they have affected Aboriginal Health Care Policy
• The continued influence on self-determination
• The issue of funding

9:45

Honouring our Grandmothers: Addressing Safety and Well-being Among Aboriginal Women in Canada

Billie Allan, MSW
Health Research and Policy Officer
Native Women’s Association of Canada

This session will provide an overview of an ongoing qualitative research project exploring issues of safety and well-being of senior Aboriginal women across the country. The aim of the project is to gather stories from senior Aboriginal women, to learn more about their experiences and concerns regarding safety and well-being, as well as their vision for change.

This project is based on a belief that the voices, vision and wisdom of senior Aboriginal women should inform the policies, programs and services addressing their safety and well-being. This research project is a beginning, part of our efforts to increase attention and response to the concerns and needs of senior Aboriginal women.

10:15

Networking Coffee Break

10:30

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention – Promising Developments

Roslynn Baird
Program Administrator
Southern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (S.O.A.D.I)
Vice-Chairperson
National Aboriginal Diabetes Association Inc.

11:00

What is Healing?...an Aboriginal Community Perspective

Nena La Caille
Executive Director
Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre

On-going Community Engagement

Kim Brunelle
AHC Health Planner
Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle (BANAC)

11:45

Addressing the Burden of Chronic Disease in First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities

Debbie Dedam-Montour
Executive Director
National Indian & Inuit
Community Health Representatives Organization

• Community health representatives role within the health team
• Addressing issues regarding chronic diseases needs to be community driven
• Development of Aboriginal specific resources on diabetes, tobacco use, injury prevention

12:30

Networking Luncheon

1:45

Métis Nation of Ontario Chronic Disease Surveillance Program – Results from the Study on the Prevalence of Diabetes in the Métis Population

Donna Lyons
Director of Health
Métis Nation of Ontario

• How widespread is diabetes in the Métis population?
• How do these statistics compare to the general population?
• What level of care do the Métis receive in the management of their diabetes?
• What interpretations of the data can we make?

2:30

Two Spirit Women: Reintroducing Ourselves

Doris "Doe" O'Brien Teengs
Regional Outreach Worker
Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy

• Who are Two Spirit Women?
• Our history
• The affects of colonization
• Health:
  • The costs of homophobia
  • suicide
  • HIV/AIDS
  • domestic violence
  • Community and allies
  • Voices to be heard

3:15

Networking Refreshment Break

3:30

Urban Aboriginal Health: Programs and Services

Lynn Lavallee, BA, MSc, PhD
Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
Ryerson University

• Overview of composition in urban centres in Ontario and Manitoba (Toronto, Sudbury, Manitoba, Thunder Bay predominantly)
• Some health statistics
• Services and programs (services offered, lack of and barriers to services)
• Holistic approaches (lack of primary prevention services)

4:15

Indigenous Community Based Participatory Research in Environmental Health: Better Information Leads to Better Decision-Making

Roy Kwiatkowski
Director, Environmental Research Division
Primary Health Care and Public Health Directorate

Our environment and our health are closely linked. This presentation will outline efforts by the Environmental Health Research Division of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada to assist Indigenous communities to carry out environmental health Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR).

Recognition and integration of traditional knowledge is paramount, as is an understanding, by all stakeholders including the academic researchers, of Indigenous values, principles, approaches and ideas. CBPR is a qualitative methodology that emphasizes respect for the individual and is emerging as a way to enable environmental health research to empower Indigenous communities.

5:00

Co-Chair’s Summation and Conference Adjourns for the Day

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

8:30

Continental Breakfast

9:00

Remarks from Insight Information

9:05

Co-Chair’s Opening Address

Chief Joel Abram
Oneida Nation of the Thames

9:15

Strategic Approaches to Ending Violence and the Subsequent Health Issues

Sylvia Maracle
Executive Director
Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres

• Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Aboriginal Women 2007
• Current strategies
• Mental health and poverty related health issues

9:45

First Nations First Link Program for Alzheimer’s

Susan Oster
First Link Public Education Coordinator
Alzheimer Society London & Middlesex

Robin Shawanoo
Oneida First Link Coordinator
Oneida Nation of the Thames

• Helps people with dementia and their families better understand the disease and puts them in direct contact with local resources quickly:
  • includes memory screening with MoCA© (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) modified specifically for use in First Nations communities (the first tool of its kind in Canada)
• Supports those with dementia and their families throughout the course of the disease
• Builds partnerships between the Alzheimer Society, primary care physicians and other healthcare providers
• Increases health professionals’ knowledge of dementia, improving assessment and disease management
• Forges stronger ties and encourages increased care coordination with other community services
• Reduces pressure on Ontario’s healthcare system by extending the length of time of informal, family-based care-giving

10:30

Networking Coffee Break

10:45

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: From Prevention to Intervention, An Aboriginal Perspective

Laura Spero B.A., B.Ed., Certified in Addiction Studies
Fetal Alcohol Prevention and Awareness Educator
Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Center (London, Ontario)

• Intergenerational links between substance abuse, pregnancy and residential schools
• Best practices in primary prevention
• Recognizing the need for diagnosis

11:15

A Successful Project – Chronic Kidney Disease Screening, Identification and Management

Dr. C. W. Ashton, MD, MBA (Finance)
Executive Vice President
HarbourFront Health Group

• Reason for the project/ prevalence of chronic kidney disease in First Nations people
• Objectives: early identification and chronic disease management
• Methodology: a multidisciplinary approach
• Results and lessons learned

11:45

Recruitment and Retention of Aboriginal Staff in Hospital Settings

Peter Menzies, PhD, RSW
Clinic Head
Aboriginal Services
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

• Organizational challenges
• Role of administration, including governing Board, senior Management, supervisors
• Training
• Honouring traditions

12:30

Networking Luncheon

1:30

Gender, Culture, and their Impacts on Health

Erin Wolski
Health Director
Native Women’s Association of Canada

Highlights of the work of the NWAC in moving culturally relevant gender based analysis forward within health programs and policy development, and community based research initiatives.

2:15

Aboriginal Health Models, Best Practices and Case Studies

Simon Brascoupé
Senior Adviser, Aboriginal Relations and Initiatives
National Aboriginal Health Organization

• Holistic perspectives of health
• Aboriginal healing and wellness
• Cultural competency and safety
• Case study: Aboriginal Healing Foundation Healing Centre Program
• Case study: Collaborative delivery of Aboriginal and Western health models

3:00

Networking Refreshment Break

3:15

Update on the Telehealth Program – Focussing on the Investments in First Nations and Inuit Communities

Nancy Muller RN, BHScN, CDE
Regional Telemedicine Coordinator
KO Telemedicine
Keewaytinook Okimakanak
Northern Chiefs Council

Update on KO Telemedicine – Where We Are Now and What the Plan is for the Future

• How First Nations specific Telemedicine works for community health
• Planning for the future

Lak Parmar
Group Director, Programs
Canada Health Infoway

Telehealth — Making Health Care Accessible to Remote Communities

• Infoway approach and strategy for the telehealth program
• Program objectives
• Current status
• Success stories
• Future directions

4:15

The Emergence of the Integrated Continuum of Care – Implications for Aboriginal Healthcare and eHealth

J, Wayne Gudbranson
President & CEO
Branham Group Inc.

There are definite signs that the Canadian healthcare system is changing. There is a gradual shift from the historical reactive healthcare system (or illness system) to one of proactive wellness. This shift is changing the way healthcare stakeholders are approaching delivery of services and it is supporting the need for greater information exchange across the complete continuum of care. This session will examine the trends in healthcare delivery and eHealth deployment across the continuum of care and specifically how this transformation is and will impact Aboriginal health.

5:00

Register 3 delegates for the main conference at regular price at the same time and you’re entitled to register a fourth person from your organization at no charge. For other group discounts, please call 1-888-777-1707. All discounts must be redeemed when booking, discounts will not be valid or applied after this time.