FNIGC’s survey and research work has been designed to support positive change for First Nations people living on reserve and in northern communities.
Originating with the Regional Health Survey (RHS), which was created by First Nations for First Nations, the information we have collected from our surveys and research has informed key community health programs, such as the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, the Aboriginal Head Start Program on Reserve, the Children’s Oral Health Initiative, the Maternal Child Health Program, and the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention program.
Meanwhile, at a community level, the Mohawk Nation of Kahnawake has used RHS data to inform their health and social services planning, while Bigstone Cree Nation has used it to support their 10-year Comprehensive Health Plan, report cards to Health Canada, and the Community Based Reporting Template (CBRT).
In addition, data from FNIGC’s surveys have influenced policy areas such as food security and nutrition, healthy living, healthy child development, communicable disease control, youth smoking, and mental health and addictions. Check out FNIGC’s Power of Data story collection to learn more about the real-world benefits that RHS data has had in First Nations communities over the past two decades.
FNIGC envisions that every First Nation will achieve data sovereignty in alignment with its distinct world view and we recognize that this means expressions of data sovereignty may vary from nation to nation. Regardless, the First Nations principles of OCAP® assert that First Nations have control over data collection processes in their communities, they own the information, and dictate how this information can be used or accessed. All of FNIGC’s survey and research work is conducted in alignment with the OCAP® Principles. If you or your community are invited to participate in research and want to make sure OCAP® Principles are followed, learn more here or contact [email protected].
FNIGC’s survey data is designed to represent First Nations people living on reserve and in northern communities across Canada at the national and regional level. For more information on how we sample participants, check out the following video.