Andrew Kmetic, University of VictoriaJeff Reading, University of Victoria

Robynne Edgar, NEARBC

NEARBC

NEARBC

• Funded by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research

• Eight Health of Populations Networks

• Four years of funding

Other MSFHR HoPN’s• BC Child and Youth Health Research Network• BC Environmental and Occupational Health

Research Network• BC Mental Health and Addictions Research

Network• BC Network for Aging Research• BC Rural and Remote Health Research Network• Disabilities Health Research Network• Network Environments for Aboriginal

Research BC• Women’s Health Research Network

Goals and Objectives• The strategic focus of NEARBC is to increase

capacity in Aboriginal health research in BC: – To facilitate network building through partnerships and collaboration in

Aboriginal health research between researchers and communities. – To promote and facilitate excellent research which is culturally

appropriate, community based where possible and appropriate, and which leads to tangible health benefits for Aboriginal populations in BC and elsewhere.

– To promote information sharing, by circulating and distributing research findings on Aboriginal health to communities, health and service providers, government, the research community, and educational institutions.

– To increase funding within Aboriginal health research by successfully winning national and international funding competitions.

– To ensure community consultation and participation as a critical component of all future Aboriginal health research in BC.

– To develop a sustainable and inclusive network that will continue to evolve overtime.

NEARBCORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Oversight Committee

AdvisoryCommittee

Co-Leaders

Program Manager

UBCNetwork Node

UNBCNetwork Node

UVIC Network Node

Node Leadership & Coordination• Vancouver Island - UVIC Node

– Node Leader - Dr. Chris Lalonde, Associate Professor, Psychology, UVic

– Node Coordinator - Velten Pilger

• Southern BC - UBC Node– Node Leader - Dr. Eduardo Jovel, Director, Institute for

Aboriginal Health, UBC – Node Coordinator - Elizabeth Towers

• Northern BC - UNBC Node– Node Leader - Margo Greenwood, Executive Director,

National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health; Faculty of Education, University of Northern BC

– Node Coordinator - Julia Morris

University of Victoria

Victoria, BC

University of British Columbia

Vancouver, BC

University of Northern British Columbia

Prince George, BC

NEARBC

• Connecting researchers, Aboriginal and other community members, government, provincial health authorities and students– Website (NEARBC and nodes)

– Weekly e-news

– Members’ Forum

– Searchable Members’ Database

NEARBC Membership

• June 2006 110 Members

• December 2006 272 Members

• February 2007 340 Members

• May 2007 450 Members

Membership by Organizational Affiliation

Figure 1. NEARBC Membership by Organizational Affiliation

Non-Aboriginal Community

Organizations5%

Academic Researchers

29%

Health Authorities22%

Aboriginal Community

Organizations7%

Provincial Government

7%

Trainees and Other Research Users

30%

NEARBC Website Activity

April 2006 – Launch of website

September – Recruitment of members commenced

October 2006 – Launch of e-news

December 2006 – Change of website host - stats unavailable

Website HitsApril 2006 to April 2007

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

Mo

nth

ly H

its

39,217

Collaboration and Partnerships• VIHA

– The UVic node is working with the Aboriginal Services manager at VIHA to create a researchers database for remote Aboriginal communities on Vancouver Island

• Northern Health Authority– The UNBC node of NEARBC is worked with the

Northern Health Authority to organize the 2007 Northern Aboriginal Research Gathering

Collaboration and Partnerships• The UNBC node of NEARBC has developed

relationships with these groups and identified them as 2007/08 partners– The Centre of Excellence for Children and

Adolescents with Special Needs – UNBC Taskforce on Substance Abuse – The National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal

Health and BC Initiatives at UNBC• Aboriginal Communities and First Nations

– Klahoose, Namgis, Tsawataineuk, Kwicksutaineuk-Ah, Kwaw-Amish, Gwawaenuk, Gwa-Sala Nakwaxda’xw, Kwakuitl, Quatsino and Nu’ chal’ nulth

Community Workshop

• UVIC Node Reframing and Reclaiming Research: Engaging First Nations Communities in Research– Brought together researchers, health

professionals and community members in effort to facilitate communication

• Need for online health data

• Placed on website, expand to include abstracts

Seed Grants• Typically seed grants < $5,000• Assist in preparing larger grant proposals• Natural Resources, Food and Health and

the Nuu-cha-nulth First Nation. – to address a perceived ‘disconnection’

from traditional food resource usage patterns within First Nations communities, a move to less nutritious foods and less active lifestyles, and the health consequences

Travel Grant - Darlene Sanderson

• 6th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples Issues - Land, Territories and Natural Resources – Water is Sacred, Water is Life, Water is

Fundamental: Planning A World Indigenous Forum on Water and Peace

Activities in 2007/08• Partnered workshops

– community-based research– grant writing skills– community engagement– research ethics, Aboriginal research

methodologies, transforming Indigenous knowledge, advancing Aboriginal health research ethics and intellectual property

• Partnered conferences – Annual Aboriginal health research gathering

• Members advisory group

NEARBC Future Plans

• Collaboration and Partnerships

• Capacity Building

• KT

• External Evaluation – Formative and Summative