Presentation to the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada Health Canada Research Meeting Research Meeting Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain.

Presentation to the Presentation to the

First Nations and Inuit Health Branch ofFirst Nations and Inuit Health Branch of

Health CanadaHealth Canada

Research MeetingResearch MeetingMontreal Marriott Chateau ChamplainMontreal Marriott Chateau Champlain

April 16 – 18 2008April 16 – 18 2008

Jennifer Dickson, Executive DirectorJennifer Dickson, Executive Director

Meeting the Needs of Inuit WomenMeeting the Needs of Inuit Womenand their Communitiesand their Communities

Researchers, Policy MakersResearchers, Policy Makers and and

Inuit Women Inuit Women

Pauktuutit’s Vision

Pauktuutit’s vision is to be a dynamic, visible, influential organization, supporting Inuit women and

providing leadership, voice and excellence for the betterment of Inuit women, their families and

communities.

About PauktuutitAbout Pauktuutit

Representatives on Pauktuutit’s BoardRepresentatives on Pauktuutit’s Board North Qikitani (Baffin) North Qikitani (Baffin) South Qikitani Baffin) South Qikitani Baffin) KitikmeotKitikmeot Kivalliq Kivalliq InuvialuitInuvialuit Nunavik Hudson Nunavik Hudson Nunavik UngavaNunavik Ungava Nunatsiavut Nunatsiavut UrbanUrban Youth Youth

Mission Pauktuutit works to foster greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women, to advocate for equity and social improvements, and to encourages the participation of Inuit women in the Community, regional and national life of Canada.

• DiabetesDiabetes

• Early Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development

• Family ViolenceFamily Violence

• Housing CrisisHousing Crisis

• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

• Gender in Decision MakingGender in Decision Making

• Teen Pregnancy Teen Pregnancy

• Sexual HealthSexual Health

• Gender EquityGender Equity

• Protection of Cultural and Protection of Cultural and Traditional KnowledgeTraditional Knowledge

• Home and Community CaregiversHome and Community Caregivers

• International issues and the United International issues and the United NationsNations

• Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development

• EnvironmentEnvironment

• Injury PreventionInjury Prevention

• Justice and CorrectionsJustice and Corrections

• Tobacco ReductionTobacco Reduction

• Youth rights and IssuesYouth rights and Issues

• MidwiferyMidwifery

Pauktuutit Activities Pauktuutit Activities

Stronger Tools for Decision Stronger Tools for Decision Making and Making and ResearchResearch

• Gender-based Analysis (GBA)• Culturally Relevant Gender Based Analysis• Inuit Specific Culturally Relevant Gender Based

Analysis• Pauktuutit’s Culturally Relevant Gender-based

Analysis Tool

ProcessProcess

• Phase I – Draft the Inuit Gender-Phase I – Draft the Inuit Gender-based Analysis Framework and based Analysis Framework and Draft Core Set of Inuit Women Draft Core Set of Inuit Women Health Indicators.Health Indicators.

• Phase II – Clarification, Validation, Phase II – Clarification, Validation, Input to the Framework and Report.Input to the Framework and Report.

• Phase III – Implementation.Phase III – Implementation.

The ToolThe ToolWhat is the Inuit GBA Multi-use tool?What is the Inuit GBA Multi-use tool?

Pauktuutit’s multi-use tool uses the Inuit GBA Framework to Pauktuutit’s multi-use tool uses the Inuit GBA Framework to focus attention on issues of Inuit health and gender in a way focus attention on issues of Inuit health and gender in a way that reflects an Inuit perspective. The multi-use tool that reflects an Inuit perspective. The multi-use tool foregrounds certain themes that Inuit delegates to the national foregrounds certain themes that Inuit delegates to the national GBA workshop gave more prominence to; these themes are GBA workshop gave more prominence to; these themes are grouped under three headings : grouped under three headings :

1. Elders, culture, language, family, community and 1. Elders, culture, language, family, community and spirituality;spirituality;

2. Land, weather, animals and country food and2. Land, weather, animals and country food and

3. National Canadian economy, institutions and government3. National Canadian economy, institutions and government

ExampleExample

• Climate ChangeClimate Change

ResultsResults

• Feedback from Inuit stakeholders was Feedback from Inuit stakeholders was remarkably consistent with the findings of the remarkably consistent with the findings of the literature review in suggesting central themes literature review in suggesting central themes for an Inuit-specific determinants framework. for an Inuit-specific determinants framework. These themes make up the core of the These themes make up the core of the Inuit Inuit Gender-based Analysis Framework,Gender-based Analysis Framework, making it making it the first framework of culturally relevant the first framework of culturally relevant health determinants for Inuithealth determinants for Inuit

DiscussionDiscussion1.Why disaggregate Inuit-specific health 1.Why disaggregate Inuit-specific health

data?data?

• A more accurate assessment of Inuit health A more accurate assessment of Inuit health conditions is only possible if Inuit health data conditions is only possible if Inuit health data are separated from non-Inuit data. Without are separated from non-Inuit data. Without Inuit-specific comparable data gathered from Inuit-specific comparable data gathered from all Inuit in all jurisdictions, it is difficult to all Inuit in all jurisdictions, it is difficult to notice trends, diagnose problems or notice trends, diagnose problems or recommend remedial action.recommend remedial action.

DiscussionDiscussion

2. Why not use the same health determinants 2. Why not use the same health determinants for Inuit and non-Aboriginal Canadians?for Inuit and non-Aboriginal Canadians?

• Non-Aboriginal frameworks of health Non-Aboriginal frameworks of health determinants which tend to focus on income, determinants which tend to focus on income, life expectancy and credentialed educational life expectancy and credentialed educational attainment may overlook measurements of attainment may overlook measurements of well-being that are important to Inuit but are well-being that are important to Inuit but are non-existent or non-remarkable in Euro-non-existent or non-remarkable in Euro-Canadian culture.Canadian culture.

DiscussionDiscussion3.Why create separate indicators and determinants 3.Why create separate indicators and determinants

for Inuit and First Nations?for Inuit and First Nations?

• While disaggregating Inuit health indicators is While disaggregating Inuit health indicators is important, noting and respecting differences in important, noting and respecting differences in determinants between Inuit and First nations is also determinants between Inuit and First nations is also important. Inuit and First Nations are different important. Inuit and First Nations are different cultures; with different experiences, languages, cultures; with different experiences, languages, histories, geography, politics, social relations, values histories, geography, politics, social relations, values and beliefs. These differences merit respect and and beliefs. These differences merit respect and accommodation in developing separate First Nations accommodation in developing separate First Nations and Inuit health determinants frameworks.and Inuit health determinants frameworks.

DiscussionDiscussion4.Why employ a gender-based analysis of health 4.Why employ a gender-based analysis of health

datadata

• One of the striking observations from Pauktuutit’s One of the striking observations from Pauktuutit’s research is that although there is some desegregation research is that although there is some desegregation of data by sex (for example, SLiCA surveys separate of data by sex (for example, SLiCA surveys separate all findings by male/female) there is little or no all findings by male/female) there is little or no research on gender—on social and cultural roles of research on gender—on social and cultural roles of Inuit women and men and how these might impact Inuit women and men and how these might impact health. This gap in itself speaks to the need for an health. This gap in itself speaks to the need for an Inuit GBA and determinants that illuminate the Inuit GBA and determinants that illuminate the interaction between gender roles and health of Inuit.interaction between gender roles and health of Inuit.

www.pauktuutit.cawww.pauktuutit.caPauktuutit’s Internet site is a source of Inuit-specific resources on a wide range Pauktuutit’s Internet site is a source of Inuit-specific resources on a wide range

of topics and issuesof topics and issues. .

The Inuit Way: A Guide to Inuit Culture introduces Inuit culture past and present.

Keepers of the Light: Inuit women’s Action Plan details Pauktuutit’s priority action areas.

Thank Thank YouYou

PAUKTUUTITPAUKTUUTITINUIT WOMEN OF CANADAINUIT WOMEN OF CANADA

Suite 400Suite 400 56 Sparks Street56 Sparks StreetOttawa, Ontario CANADAOttawa, Ontario CANADA

K1P 5A9K1P 5A9613-238-3977613-238-3977

www.pauktuutit.cawww.pauktuutit.caJennifer DicksonJennifer DicksonExecutive DirectorExecutive Director

[email protected]@pauktuutit.ca