Injury Control and Indigenous Populations

Presentation/Abstract Title

Injury control and indigenous populations in Canada - Implications for a national first nations injury control prevention model

Author

Dr. Rose-Alma J. McDonald
Katenies Research & Management Services
Researcher and Consultant

Summary of Presentation

Injury is one of the main causes of disability among First Nations people in Canada. Life expectancy at birth is seven to eight years less for First Nations people than Canadians generally. Aboriginal children are six times more likely to die by injury, poisoning or violence than Canadian children. Within Canada some specific population groups are at greater risk of injury than others. Aboriginal people, for example, experience three times the injury death rate of Canadians as a whole and the suicide rate for Aboriginal youth under the age of 20 is five times greater than that of all young Canadians.

The objective of my  research was to explore the key sources of evidence to support the diversity in our National First Nation population as compared to mainstream Canadian society. Principle data sources that support the impact of injuries on First Nation populations and identify barriers that impede injury control were reviewed. From these data I describe a detailed strategy of how to address these barriers from an First Nation's perspective.

The methodology utilized in my paper is a detailed review of literature on First Nations and Indigenous populations as compared to the Canadian context. Indigenous population data related to injury control are compared to Canada's to illustrate and quantify the scope of the problem, what strategies have been utilized to address the problem and what long term implementation implications are indicated to impact change over time. This is described in the form of a national First Nations injury prevention action plan.

Our First Nations population is in crisis and we are overly represented in the number of deaths, injuries and suicides in Canada. Our population is demographically characterized as young and highly mobile.  Our children are our future..... they are our joy for the present and hope for the future. Without them we will have no one to carry on our languages, culture, traditions and legacies.