Recognize First Nations, Inuit, & Métis (FNIM) Rights:
Better Quality of Life
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Canada's history of colonization and its discrimination against Indigenous peoples have not only resulted in the loss of their lives, land, and culture, but also profoundly harmed the social determinants of health that shape their overall quality of life. In accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples have the right to self-determination, including self-governance. Their inherent and sovereign rights include ownership and governance over their data, irrespective of where it is housed, especially control over their health data and health priorities.
Supporting the
Next Generation
Challenge: ICES is committed to building capacity by supporting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students and community members to gain skills and understanding of what data is available and how it can be used to support health and wellness.
How health data was used: As an important next step in this partnership, the MNO and ICES are training the next generation of Métis health researchers in Ontario through joint graduate student practicum placements, where students can develop ‘hands on’ experience and apply theories and analytical skills acquired in the academic portion of the degree.
Result: In 2020, two inaugural student placements for this program took place, where the students (Abigail Simms and Noel Tsui) examined COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among MNO Citizens. Their work was used throughout 2021 and early 2022 to inform Métis-specific COVID-19 related public health messaging. Additionally, linkage to the Ontario COVID-19 vaccine database through the ICES partnership has helped monitor the success of MNO’s health promotion activities on COVID-19 vaccine uptake by MNO Citizens.