In this issue are six feature articles concerning diabetes and aboriginal peoples in Canada. The idea for such a theme issue stemmed from the 3rd International Conference on Diabetes and Indigenous Peoples: "Theory, Reality and Hope," held in Winnipeg during May 26-30, 1995. These papers suggest the rich variety of Conference presentations from which they emerged. The Conference was organized by the Assembly of First Nations, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the SUGAR Group, a Winnipeg-based group of volunteers committed to improving the care of aboriginal people with diabetes. It carries on the tradition of action research and partnership between communities, health care providers, researchers and policy makers established by the two previous conferences in Minneapolis (1990) and Honolulu (1993). Conference proceedings will be published by the newly formed National Aboriginal Diabetes Association [see Announcement on page 180].

Diabetes is an emerging health problem among aboriginal and indigenous populations, not just in North America, but in other regions of the world as well. A growing body of research has been conducted on describing the burden of illness, investigating the risk factors and determinants of the disease, understanding the cultural concepts of diabetes and its social impact on communities, and testing and evaluating intervention programs. A forum such as the Winnipeg conference allows an exchange of ideas and experience. The editors of Chronic Diseases in Canada have taken an important step by widely disseminating preliminary results from this developing field.

The six papers are based on studies conducted in aboriginal communities in Canada, from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, in urban, rural and remote settings with widely divergent ecological and sociocultural circumstances. The papers also differ in terms of the stage of the research: some are still in progress and the intent is not so much to present the results but to share with others the lessons learned in planning and executing the studies. It is also noteworthy that these studies used a variety of research designs and methods, beyond the traditional epidemiologic tools familiar to readers of this journal. The integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches holds particular promise in seeking solutions to the problem of diabetes in aboriginal populations. These articles also illustrate how different groups have begun to respond to the urgency of interventions before all the scientific answers have been addressed.

The process of aboriginal self-determination in health care extends to health research. These papers provide evidence that significant community participation has generally been achieved.