Assembly of First Nations Ontario Regional Chief Day Welcomes New Reforms by CIHR to Strengthen Indigenous Health Research

OTTAWA, Nov. 9, 2016 /CNW/ - Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day, who oversees the AFN's national health portfolio, welcomed last week's announcement by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) on supporting ethical Indigenous health research and strengthening its relationship with Indigenous peoples and organizations. CIHR announced it will take concrete actions to strengthen Indigenous health research, including increasing its investments in this field to a minimum of 4.6 per cent of its annual budget, a rate proportional to the Indigenous population in Canada. CIHR also committed to build mentorship opportunities for Indigenous researchers.

"The AFN has been working as part of the Aboriginal Health Research Steering Committee to ensure CIHR's processes and investments reflect the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. We are very pleased to see CIHR taking these important steps in the spirit of reconciliation," said Chief Day. "First Nations will need to monitor and evaluate these reforms to ensure they are meeting the needs of Indigenous communities and Indigenous health researchers."

CIHR also announced they will meet annually with leaders of the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis National Council to discuss Indigenous health research priorities, and will ensure the diversity of Indigenous peoples is reflected on the CIHR Governing Council.

For more information on the CIHR announcement: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=index&crtr.page=1&nid=1147669

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates.

SOURCE Assembly of First Nations

Alain Garon, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer, 613-241-6789 ext. 382, 613-292-0857 (cell), [email protected]; Jenn Jefferys, AFN Communications Officer, 613-241-6789 ext. 110, 613-222-9656 (cell), [email protected]