Now, after nearly five years the RHS is back in communities with its latest iteration: RHS Phase 4. Our Quebec Regional Partners were first in the field over the winter in the communities of Wendake and Essipit, which followed months of preparation and training with their Knowledge Gatherers. 

The Quebec team had to train new staff on the proper data collection techniques, as well as newer data collection initiatives which includes a new online option now available to survey respondents. 

FNIGC and its Regional Partners are committed to being community focused, and as such the Quebec region has engaged in onboarding local community members to assist with data collection within the community.  

This includes hiring new Community Liaison Officers to help participants navigate the survey process whether it is in-person or online. These positions are filled by members of the communities so that survey participants will feel more comfortable engaging with the data collection process. This also allows communities to use their own capacities to support the work of rolling out RHS Phase 4, which will be key to the successful roll out of the RHS across the country over the next two years.   

The RHS is the first, and only, national First Nations led health survey. The RHS involves First Nations working together in collecting information from First Nations people living on reserve and in Northern communities based on both western and Traditional understandings of health and well-being.  

Over the years, the RHS has become a key source of reliable information about life in First Nations communities that is used in the creation of many programs and services by Health Canada, and by communities themselves.  

Stay tuned to FNIGC’s News & Events page for future updates about the RHS Phase 4 as it continues to roll out in First Nations communities across the country.    

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The National Report of The First Nations Regional Health Survey Phase 3: Volume 1, released today in Ottawa, is the culmination of the third phase of a landmark five-year survey process conducted by FNIGC and its Regional Partners across the country. Among the key findings of Volume 1 of the RHS Phase 3 are:

• More than three-quarters (75.3%) of First Nations youth said they had abstained from any alcohol consumption in the previous year; a significantly higher proportion than that reported in the RHS Phase 2 (2008-2010), which showed that nearly two-thirds (61.0%) of youth had abstained from alcohol.
• Nearly three-quarters (74.4%) of First Nations adults reported being directly or inter-generationally affected by their parents’ or grandparents’ attendance in Indian Residential School.
• Only 1 in 10 (10.4%) youth reported smoking on a daily basis, and only 6.8% reported smoking on an occasional basis; this marks a significant decrease from the RHS Phase 2 (2008-2010) which reported 20.4% of youth were daily smokers (a decrease of nearly 50 percent) and 12.8% were occasional smokers.
• A significantly higher proportion of First Nations adults reported having higher levels of educational attainment in 2015-2016; 14.8% reported high school as being their highest level attainment (compared to 9.8% in RHS Phase 2) and 3.2% reported having attained a Graduate-level education (compared to 1.3% in the RHS Phase 2). Levels of post-secondary attainment remained stable, at 45.6%.
• The age-standardized prevalence of diabetes among First Nations adults was 19.2%, which represents a steady trend-over-time when compared to 20.7% in the RHS Phase 2 (2008-2010), and 20.1% in the RHS Phase 1 (2002-2003).
• The percentage of First Nations adults reporting household mould or mildew was 39.7%, which marks a significant decrease compared to 50.9% in RHS Phase 2 and 44% in RHS Phase 1 (2002-2003).   Despite this, the current First Nations rate is still three times higher than the rate in the general population (13%).
• More than two-thirds (69.7%) of First Nations adults were actively participating in the labour force*, a number that was slightly higher that the labour force participation rate in the general Canadian population (65.7%); yet they still experience lower employment rates (47.1% ) and higher rates of unemployment (61.1%) than the general population. (*the labour force participation rate is defined as the percentage of adults either employed or actively seeking employment).

“The results from the first volume of this essential First Nations-led report reveal some of the strengths, challenges, and resiliencies of our First Nations communities across the country, while also challenging a lot of common assumptions and misconceptions” says Dr. Jonathan Dewar, Executive Director of FNIGC.

“It’s my hope that the information contained in the RHS Phase 3 report will serve to inform decision-making at all levels of government, as well as contribute to a richer body of knowledge about the ever-changing nature of life in First Nations communities for researchers, policy makers, politicians, media, and the general public.”

The RHS was the first—and is still the only—national health survey created, conducted, and carried out by First Nations people for First Nations people. Launched in 1997, the RHS is rooted in Traditional and Western understandings of health and well-being and gathers information in First Nations reserve and northern communities across Canada.

RHS Phase 3, the latest phase of the survey, began data collection in April 2015 and wrapped up 18 months later finishing with 23,764 surveys completed in 253 First Nations communities, or 78 percent of its target number—a highly successful response rate for a survey of this size and complexity. .

The first RHS Phase 3 results are contained in the National Report of The First Nations Regional Health Survey Phase 3: Volume 1, which is being released today on Day Two of the “20 Years of First Nations Data: The Path to RHS Phase 3,” FNIGC’s RHS data release conference at the Delta Ottawa City Centre Hotel in downtown Ottawa. In addition, more than 80 charts and figures published in the report are now available on FNIGC Data Online, FNIGC’s free-to-use data tool: fnigc.ca/dataonline.

A copy of the 170-page report can be downloaded here:  National Report of The First Nations Regional Health Survey Phase 3: Volume 1

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On March 13 & 14, 2018, “20 years of First Nations Data: The Path to RHS Phase 3” will bring FNIGC’s Regional Partners, field workers, First Nations leaders, researchers, academics and guest speakers together in Ottawa for a first-look at the latest data from the landmark First Nations Regional Health Survey (FNRHS, or RHS).

Taking place at the Delta Ottawa City Centre Hotel, the conference will include presentations of regional and national-level data and selected trends from the RHS Phase 3, alongside discussions about the RHS survey development process, the evolution of the RHS over the past 20 years, and the impact the RHS has had in First Nations communities over time.

“The RHS was the first—and is still the only—national health survey created, conducted and carried out by First Nations people for First Nations people, and we want to take this opportunity to help celebrate its social and cultural impact over the past two decades,” says Jonathan Dewar, FNIGC’s Executive Director.

“Further, this third phase of the survey promises to be the most important and exciting, as it will allow us for the first time to look at selected RHS data trends over time.”

Founded in 1997, the RHS is FNIGC’s original survey process. Rooted in Traditional and Western understandings of health and well-being, the survey gathers information in First Nations reserve and Northern communities across Canada.

RHS Phase 3, the latest phase of the survey, began data collection in April 2015 and wrapped up 18 months later finishing with more than 24,000 surveys completed in 253 First Nations communities, or 78 percent of its target number—a record in the history of the survey.

In addition to spotlighting the latest release of data from the RHS, FNIGC’s national conference will also serve as a celebration of the hard-work and dedication of FNIGC and its Regional Partner organizations that have contributed to the success of the milestone First Nations survey over the past two decades. This will culminate in an evening celebration on Tuesday, March 13, featuring food and live music.

FNIGC will also be live-streaming the entire conference on its Facebook Page (Facebook.com/FNIGC) to ensure that as many people as possible can take part.

Come join FNIGC for a healthy debate and help celebrate the continued success of this unique First Nations survey.

Registration is $150 ($50 for students) and includes all meals and refreshments. Space is limited to 150 spots. Registration can be completed online at FNIGC.ca/RHS3Conference.

For more information please contact Lyndsy Gracie at lgracie@fnigc.ca.

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