 People with aboriginal ancestry inhabit large areas of Canada; areas in brown have North American Indian plural; in magenta, Inuit plurality
Source: 2006 Canadian Census : dean.giustini@ubc.ca
To browse other articles on a range of HSL topics, see the A-Z index.
Last Update
 16 June 2013
Introduction
 Leona Aglukkaq, Canada's Minister of Health | Finding health information for British Columbians  | Multilingual resources for patients
Aboriginal health is a term that refers to the health and well-being of Canada's Aboriginal peoples and First Nations' communities. Aboriginal peoples have been severely affected by a number of factors that have led to their lower overall health status. On average, compared to the general population, Aboriginal people live seven years less, have higher infant mortality, and suffer from diabetes and HIV/AIDs disproportionately. The attainment and promotion of Aboriginal health benchmarks are thought to be crucial in improving the health status of those living in Canada's Aboriginal and First Nations' communities.
In the Constitution Act of 1982, the term “Aboriginal” refers to the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada. Across the country, Aboriginal health programs are being developed to help Aboriginal people lead healthier, longer lives and to prevent chronic and contagious diseases from taking root in communities. Educational programs are critical in the two-way understanding required to meet the health and wellness needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. Some of the culturally-sensitive initiatives and education programs needed are listed below.
- Note: Canada's current Minister of Health is an Inuk, First Nations. Ms. Leona Aglukkaq was elected to work for the Nunavummiut in the House of Commons in October 2008. On October 30th, 2008 she became the first Inuk to be sworn into the Federal Cabinet.
Begin here
 4 stars denotes librarian-selected, high quality information. Starred sites are great places to begin your research.
-
Key portals & databases
Audiovisual
British Columbia 
Canada
-
-
-
-
International
Reports
Subject headings
The Library of Congress suggests the use of "Indians of North America" to refer to indigenous people in Canada, United States and Mexico. However, not all indigenous people are Indians. In Canada, there are other indigenous groups such as the Inuit (Eskimos), Aleuts and Metis, for example. In Canada, subject headings in library catalogues should address at least three native groups: 1) Inuit, 2) nations or tribal groups traditionally referred to as Indians or First Nations, and the 3) Metis, Canadians of mixed Indian and white ancestry. These three groups are typically assigned the following headings in library catalogues:
- Inuit--Canada. Works on the native people of the Canadian Arctic who call themselves Inuit.
- Indians of North America--Canada. Works discussing collectively Canadian Indians or First Nations. (Works limited to specific tribes or Indian peoples are entered under appropriate heading, e.g. Cree Indians.)
- Metis. Works on Canadians of mixed Indian and white ancestry.
In 1992, the Canadian Subject Headings introduced Native peoples--Canada as a heading in order to address the three Canadian groups of native or aboriginal ancestry if discussed together. The heading Native peoples--Canada is the preferred heading for First nations--Canada, Aboriginal peoples--Canada, and Indigenous peoples--Canada. For insight into classification systems for this group, see http://xwi7xwa.library.ubc.ca/files/2011/09/deer.pdf
Indigenous Librarianship
-
References
- Aboriginal health — history — bibliography
- Bartleman J. Libraries and the First Nations people of Canada. IFLA J. 2008;34(4):337–40.
- Bramley D. Indigenous disparities in disease-specific mortality, a cross-country comparison: New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States. N Z Med J. 2004;117:U1215.
- Browne AJ, McDonald H, Elliott D. Urban First Nations Health Research discussion paper. First Nations Centre of the National Aboriginal Health Organization. Ottawa: NAHO, 2009.
- Cavanagh M. Sound practices in library services to Aboriginal peoples: integrating relationships, resources and realities. Aboriginal Library Services Working Group. Provincial/Territorial Public Library Council. 2009.
- CIHR. Aboriginal Knowledge Translation: understanding and respecting the distinct needs of Aboriginal communities in research, 2009
- Christopher S et al. Applying indigenous community-based participatory research principles to partnership development in health disparities research. Fam Community Health. 2011 Jul-Sep;34(3):246–55.
- Estey EA. Innovative approaches in public health research: applying life course epidemiology to Aboriginal health research. Can J Public Health. 2007;98(6):444–446.
- Freemantle CJ. Patterns, trends, and increasing disparities in mortality for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants born in Western Australia, 1980–2001. Lancet. 2006;367:1758–66.
- Furgal C, Garvin TD. Trends in the study of Aboriginal health risks in Canada. 2010.
- Information is for everyone. Saskatchewan Minister's Advisory Committee on Library Services for Aboriginal People. Committee, 2001.
- Inuit in Canada: a statistical profile. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami by Tait H, Nepton-Riverin M, and Clark C. 2007.
- Kelm M. Colonizing bodies: Aboriginal health and healing in British Columbia 1900-1950. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1998.
- King M. Chronic diseases and mortality in Canadian Aboriginal peoples: learning from the knowledge. Prev Chronic Dis. 2011;8(1):A07.
- Kirmayer LJ. Healing traditions: the mental health of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
- Lee DE. Aboriginal students in Canada: a case study of their academic information needs and library use. J Libr Admin. 2001;33(3/4):259–92.
- Mitchel T, Maracle D. Healing the generations: post-traumatic stress and the health status of Aboriginal populations in Canada. J Aboriginal Health. 2005;2(1):14–24.
- Morrison H, Posner SF. Chronic diseases in Canada and preventing chronic disease copublishing on health in Aboriginal populations. Prev Chronic Dis. 2011;8(1):A02.
- Nickerson M. Aboriginal culture in the digital age. Policy, Politics & Governance. 2005;(10).
- Norris MJ, Kerr D, Nault F: Projections of the Population with Aboriginal Identity in Canada, 1991–2016. Population Projections Section, Demography Division, Statistics Canada, for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Ottawa: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples; 1995.
- Trovato F. Aboriginal mortality in Canada, the United States and New Zealand. J Biosoc Sci. 2001;33:67–86.
- Senécal S, O'Sullivan E. The well-being of Inuit communities in Canada. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada; 2006.
- Smylie J, Anderson M. Understanding the health of Indigenous peoples in Canada: key methodological and conceptual challenges. CMAJ. 2006;175(6):602.
- Stephens C, Porter J. Disappearing, displaced, and undervalued: a call to action for Indigenous health worldwide. Lancet. 2006;367(9527):2019–2028.
- Waldram JB, Herring DA, Young TK. Aboriginal health in Canada: historical, cultural, and epidemiological perspectives. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press; 2006.
- Wilczynski NL, McKibbon KA, Haynes RB. Search filter precision can be improvedby NOTing out irrelevant content. AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2011;2011:1506-13. Epub2011 Oct 22.
- Wilson K, Young TK. An overview of Aboriginal health research in the social sciences: current trends and future directions. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2008;67(2–3):179–189.
|
