National First Nations and Inuit Injury Prevention Working Group
Terms of Reference, June 2001
Background:
Over the last decade, a growing movement has emerged to deal with the unacceptable
problem of injuries among First Nations and Inuit. As the result of collective
efforts and political will at the community, regional, provincial, territorial
and national levels, momentum for this movement has grown steadily and strongly.
In February of 1999 Aboriginal practitioners, who participated in an environmental
scan conducted by the First Nations and Inuit Health Programs Directorate (First
Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada), recommended a strategic and
coordinated approach to addressing the problem of injuries at the national
level. In response to this recommendation a National First Nations and Inuit
Injury Prevention Focus Group meeting was held in October 1999 which resulted
in the establishment of a 'national working group'.
Mandate:
The National First Nations & Inuit Injury Prevention Working Group has
been established to provide a 'national voice' for direction, in injury prevention
and control, for First Nations and Inuit in Canada. The group, with Secretariat
support from the First Nations and Inuit Health Programs Directorate, is specifically
dedicated to
- the development and promotion of a national framework for injury prevention
and control, which is culturally relevant and specific to First Nations and
Inuit populations; and
- ongoing work on injury prevention.
Role of the Working Group:
Consultative processes form the basis on which the mandate of the working
group is undertaken. This means that members will consult with stakeholders
within their regions/provinces/territories and the respective organizations
they represent.
- to provide direction, advice and input into decision making for a First
Nations and Inuit Injury Prevention and Control Framework at the national
level
- to assist communities to develop initiatives and strategies to address
injuries through the development of a First Nations & Inuit framework
for injury prevention and control
- to support community mobilization by providing expertise to assist with
priority setting and the development of community-based strategies on injury
prevention
- to identify and promote best practices in injury prevention
- establish strategic linkages to leverage injury prevention at regional/provincial/territorial/national
levels
Responsibilities:
- to provide strategic and leading edge guidance and direction based on the
identified injury prevention needs of First Nations and Inuit
- to develop national, provincial/territorial, and regional communication
strategies to solicit and disseminate information on the injury prevention
work being undertaken
- to develop strategies which leverage and support opportunities for action
at the community level through national, provincial/territorial,and regional
networks and initiatives
Meetings:
Members of the working group will meet 3-4 times per year.
Membership:
Membership, whether for community or Health Canada representatives, will be
based on knowledge, expertise, and advocacy necessary to forward the work on
injuries. Representation is intended to reflect all regions in the country
and expertise from the areas of prevention through to treatment, rehabilitation,
disability and death.
Adopted: June / 2000
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