1999-2000 Annual Review, August 2000
National First Nations Environmental Contaminants Program
A collaborative program between the Assembly of First Nations
(AFN) and Health Canada, the objective of the National First Nations
Environmental Contaminants Program (NFNECP) is to assess the extent
of environmental contaminant exposure and the potential for associated
risk to the health and well being of First Nations in Canada. The
NFNECP supports innovative ways of researching potential environmental
and health impacts from contaminants in First Nation communities.
The NFNECP was launched in 1999 with the intent to encourage and
enable First Nations community-initiated research projects on environmental
contaminants. The NFNECP includes a national component designed
to address issues of national impact that are common to First Nations
across Canada and a regional component designed to address local
and regional issues. Successful proposals are carried out through
Contribution Agreements (with deliverable and financial reporting
requirements) with First Nations organizations.
For the national component, proposals are reviewed by the NFNECP
selection committee, which includes a regional First Nations representation,
a representative of the AFN and a Health Canada representative.
To meet the mandatory criteria for selection, the project must
have significant involvement of First Nations communities, groups
or organizations, a social/cultural impact assessment component
and a national impact. The Research and Statistics Unit is responsible
for the administration of contribution agreements and provides
any technical support that may be required.
In the Regional component of the NFNECP, Regional Environmental
Health Offices provide funding to community-based projects that
address their environmental contaminant concerns.
The Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) was established in 1991
in response to concerns about human exposure to elevated levels
of contaminants in fish and wildlife species that are important
to the traditional diets of northern Aboriginal people. The Program's
key objective is working to reduce and, wherever possible, eliminate
contaminants in traditionally harvested foods, while providing
information that assists informed decision making by individuals
and communities in their food use. The NCP is directed by a management
committee that is chaired by the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
and Health Canada is one of the Federal Partners. The Research
and Statistics Unit funds human health research and administers
the contribution agreements for a portion of successful proposals.
In 1999/2000, the Directorate's Environmental Research section
was active in the following projects:
EAGLE
The Effects on Aboriginals from the Great Lakes Environment (E.A.G.L.E)
Project, begun in 1990, was a comprehensive study designed to
take a broad view of health, examining the effects on the traditional
way of life and the resulting socio-cultural well-being, as well
as physical health, of First Nations in the Great Lakes environment.
EAGLE has concluded, and emphasis has shifted to the communication
of results in the Communications Strategy Program. This final
phase of the process that began with EAGLE will involve distributing
seven Technical Reports (Contaminants in Human Tissues, Health
Survey , Eating Patterns Survey, Fish Consumption Risk Analysis,
Fish Consumption Guidelines, Freshwater Fish and Wild Game Report,
Socio-Cultural Study), as well as 47 Community Reports to participating
communities. Directorate personnel will participate in community
meetings to discuss the findings.
Lesser Slave Lake
In the Lesser Slave Lake Health Study, eating patterns were surveyed
and tissue samples were tested for contaminants in 1998/1999.
In 1999/2000, a final draft of the study was completed and presented
to the communities, as well as a summary report for general readers.
No health risks were found and no further work is required in
2000/2001.
Northern River Basins
The Northern River Basins (Lesser Slave, Athabaskan, Peace Rivers)
study was proposed by Treaty 8 and is funded through the National
First Nations Environment Contaminants Program. It includes an
eating pattern survey and work is being carried out on fish consumption.
The Community Programs (CP) Directorate's role is to offer technical support.
Sioux Lookout Zone
In the Sioux Lookout Zone Environmental Contaminants Study, arrangements
were completed in 1998/99 for environmental research in three
communities Kitchenuhmaykoosb (Big Trout Lake), Weagamow and
Poplar Hill. Blood and hair sampling, an eating patterns survey
and fish, bird and game sampling were carried out in Big Trout
Lake and Poplar Hill in 1999/2000. The survey in Poplar Hill
was completed and the report was submitted to the chief and council.
The results showed no health concerns. In Big Trout Lake, the
initial sampling was completed and a report is being prepared
for the community. Early indications showed some polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination
and further investigations will be carried out in 2000/2001 to
isolate the source. Testing will be begin in Weagamow in 2000/2001.
2000-2001 Main Activities and Anticipated Outcomes:
- In Sioux Lookout Zone: visit Poplar Hill to release sampling results; conduct further sampling and analysis in Big Trout Lake; begin sampling in Weagamow.
- Begin a Mercury study in Nelson House, Man., and St. John's River, New-Brunswick (N.B.).
- Offer technical support to Treaty 8 in the Northern River Basins Study.
- Continue to administer contribution agreements for the National First Nations Environmental Contaminants Program.
- Continue to administer Northern Contaminants Program contracts.
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