National Aboriginal Health Organization

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The National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) is an Aboriginal-designed and -controlled not-for-profit body in Canada that works to influence and advance the health and well-being of Aboriginal Peoples.^[1]

Incorporated in 2000, NAHO receives core funding from Health Canada to undertake knowledge-based activities such as education, research and knowledge dissemination. With Aboriginal communities as its primary focus, NAHO gathers, creates, interprets, disseminates, and uses both traditional Aboriginal and contemporary western healing and wellness approaches.^[2]

NAHO defines Aboriginal Peoples using the Canadian Constitution Act, 1982, sections 25 and 35, to consist of three groups – Indian (First Nations), Inuit and Métis.^[3]

Its main objectives are to improve and promote Aboriginal health, understanding of health issues affecting Aboriginal Peoples and research, foster participation of Aboriginal Peoples in delivery of health care, and affirm and protect Aboriginal traditional healing practices.^[1]

NAHO’s flagship publication is the Journal of Aboriginal Health (JAH), which was launched in 2004. JAH is a peer-reviewed publication with articles from leading health scholars, academics and Aboriginal community members. It offers in-depth analysis on emerging issues in the field, and each issue includes original research, editorials and suggestions for further reading.

Structure

NAHO is governed by a Board of Directors made up of 13 directors (one outgoing), 8 of which are appointed by:Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis National Council, and Native Women's Association of Canada. An additional five board members are elected by the 10 appointed board members.^[2]

NAHO is subdivided by three centres - the First Nations Centre (FNC), the Inuit Tuttarvingat (formerly known as the Ajunnginiq Centre) and the Métis Centre. They advance health and well-being by focusing on the distinct needs of their respective populations and promoting culturally relevant approaches to health care.

The FNC advances First Nations health knowledge. The FNC respects First Nations aspirations for self-determination, distinctiveness and diversity. Working with First Nations, the FNC creates, promotes and shares health information and research. The FNC develops tools and processes that assist in building capacity and transferring knowledge (http://www.naho.ca/firstnations/).

Inuit Tuttarvingat of the National Aboriginal Health Organization advances and promotes the health and well-being of Inuit individuals, families and communities by working in strong partnerships to collect information and share knowledge (http://www.naho.ca/inuit/).

The Métis Centre strives to develop accessible, culturally relevant and safe health and well-being information for a variety of audiences including, but not limited to, researchers, governments, and Métis individuals, families, and communities (http://www.naho.ca/metis/).

Activities

NAHO has a number of projects that address Aboriginal health care issues including suicide prevention, healthy living, midwifery, and traditional health and healing. It also publishes research on its Web site, and presents at a number of conferences related to Aboriginal health. ^[2]

The Honouring Life Network is a project of the National Aboriginal Health Organization. The Web site offers culturally relevant information and resources on suicide prevention to help Aboriginal youth and youth workers dealing with a problem that has reached crisis proportions in some First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in Canada (http://www.honouringlife.ca/content/welcome-youth-corner).

To promote healthy choices, NAHO celebrates the accomplishments of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth aged 13 to 30 in the National Aboriginal Role Model Program. Lead Your Way! inspires Aboriginal youth to strive to reach their goals. Each year, 12 Aboriginal role models are selected for their achievements, leadership, and innovation, who are nominated by their peers. Throughout the year, the role models will attend celebrations, school functions, workshops, and conferences to share their stories with other Aboriginal youth (http://www.naho.ca/rolemodel/).

NAHO is also a strong advocate of midwifery as a way to return births to Aboriginal communities, linking the loss of traditional birthing practices with the loss of cultural identity. It delivered several presentations on the subject at the Invitational Gathering on North American Indigenous Birthing and Midwifery in Washington DC, May 5-7, 2008. The Ajunnginiq Centre coordinates the Irnisuksiiniq Inuit Midwifery Network, and NAHO recently released a podcast on midwifery.^[1]

See also

• Indian Health Transfer Policy (Canada)
• Canada Health Act
• Canada Health Transfer
• Canada Health and Social Transfer
• Health care in Canada
• Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada
• The Canadian Crown and Aboriginal peoples
• Indian Act

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)". Conference Board creates northern research centre. http://www.naho.ca/english/. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "NAHO Vision". McGill University. http://www.mcgill.ca/files/cine/NAHO.pdf. 
3. ^ "Constitution Act, 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms". Department of Justice. Government of Canada. 1982. http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/annex_e.html#II. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 

External links

• NAHO Website
• NAHO on Twitter: NAHO_NEWS
• First Nations Centre at NAHO
• Inuit Tuttarvingat
• Métis Centre of NAHO
• Honouring Life Network
• The National Aboriginal Role Model Program