E-News November 2011

We are pleased to present the November edition of the First Nations Environmental Health Innovation Network’s (FNEHIN) newsletter, providing a monthly summary of environmental health events, funding opportunities, research etc.

Funding

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health (CIHR-IAPH) is offering a fellowship in Quantitative Research (FQU) related to First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit health. Deadline is February 1st, 2012.
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Aboriginal groups with a charitable registration number are encouraged to apply to TD’s Friends of the Environment Fund. The purpose of the program is to promote environmental initiatives benefitting local communities that: Protect the environment and Canadian wildlife; Assist young Canadians in understanding and participating in environmental activities and/or Enhance cooperation among Environmental organizations. Deadline is December 15th, 2011.
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RBC Blue Water Fund offers a Leadership Grants ranging from $25,000 to $500,000, focusing on watershed protection and/or access to safe drinking water. First Nations with audited financial statements are eligible to apply. The 2012 window for Leadership Grant application submissions is now open. Applications are due February 3, 2012.
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If you are looking for funding check out the list at Canadian Environmental Grantmakers Network.

Learning

Join the discussion today via telephone and internet. Shifting the Weight: The burden of the food environment on the individual. The event will start on: Dec 02, 01:00pm EST

Other

Survey – Are you a First Nations Tribal Council or Provincial/Territorial Organization Health Managers/Coordinators or First Nations Health Care Provider? Then please help capture community perspectives and understanding of current cancer pathways/journeys for First Nation communities by filling out Cancer Pathway projects’ survey by clicking here.
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UNDRIP – November marks the one year anniversary of Canada’s endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The UNDRIP protects indigenous peoples rights with regard to environment and health. See UNDRIP factsheet at http://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/und-factsheet.pdf
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Mercury – The third negotiating session to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury took place from October 31 to November 4, 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya. Canada actively participated during the session. The meeting report from the third negotiation session will be posted here: http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Mercury/Negotiations/INC3/INC3Report/tabid/3488/language/en-US/Default.aspx.

Environmental Health News

November was an active month for news related to First Nations Environmental Health.
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The month began with concerns over a virus found in Fraser river Sockeye and Coho salmon. The virus risks affecting wild stocks that would, in turn, affect First Nations ability to harvest nutritious traditional food. Read about Nanaimo First Nation’s fears of a looming disaster with B.C. salmon.Click here for story.
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The oil sands continue to make the news with articles on Alberta’s Athabasca River area. It has been reported that the community of Fort Chipewyan, located downstream from the oil sands developments, has experienced unusual health problems, including elevated rates of rare cancers. In one story this month, a study discovers that birds are dying in oilsands at 30 times the rate reported. Click here for story.

Another story provides amazing aerial pictures of Fort McMurray’s landscape affected by industrial operations. Click here for story.

A final story reports that the water from the treatment plant at Fort McKay First Nation, on the Athabasca River, north of Fort McMurray, was found to exceed Health Canada guidelines for a potentially cancer-causing chemical. Click here for story.
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Environmental health concerns are playing a role in First Nations’ opposition to some extractive industry plans and have made news this month.
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In British Columbia, a court petition to prevent exploratory work on the Prosperity mine has been put forth with the Xeni Gwet’in stating that the work will “fragment habitat and disturb wildlife”… and impact an area important to the Tsilhqot’in for trapping, fishing, gathering and spiritual and ceremonial activities. Click here for story.
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Also in BC, First Nations’ opposition to the Keystone pipeline project is making news, with concerns surrounding the fact that pipeline will have to cross cherished salmon streams. First Nations are concerned about the impact an oil spill would have on the watercourse. Click here for story.
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In Northern Ontario, Matawa chiefs are expressing concern over the ‘ring of fire’ mining developments profoundly affecting First Nations, wildlife, wetlands, waterways and forests. It was stated that protecting resources and traditional lands for the benefit of future generations is important. Click here for story.
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In New Brunswick, St.Mary’s First Nation is concerned about fracking for shale gas. As “a people of the river”, they are concerned that shale gas operations threaten the water and air, putting future generation at risk. Click here for story.
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Concerns over water don’t end at quality; issues surrounding a lack of running water and poor infrastructure and its subsequent affect on health have been in the news this month.
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Winnipeg Free Press has highlighted northern Manitoba’s First Nations’ ‘water woes’ in an investigative series. Northern Ontario’s Attawapiskat has declared a state of emergency as a result of substandard and overcrowded housing that is affecting the health of people in the community. Click here for story on Manitoba’s water series and here for story on Attawapiskat.

Events

The AFN National Health Forum was the largest gathering of its kind in more than a decade, with about 800 health-care professionals from all over Canada, plus some global experts coming to Ottawa from November 7–9, 2011. To view and article summarizing it’s success and takeaway message, click here.
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December 6-7, 2011 Feeding Mind, Body and Spirit: A Gathering in Toronto
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Visit the National Collaborating Center for Environmental Health (NCCEH) at http://www.ncceh.ca for events in your province.

FNEHIN

Attention Researchers- Some First Nation Communities are seeking researchers to partner with. If you or someone you know may be appropriate for our researcher directory, please contact us.

If you have information for the website or newsletter, please contact Melissa Pomeroy at AFN, Environmental Stewardship Unit at mpomeroy(at)afn.ca or 613-241-6789 ext. 294 (toll free at 1866-869-6789) . Thank you!