Speaker Abstract

Government and Community: The Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative

Alexa Brewer

Through the 1997 Speech from the Throne and 1998 announcement of Gathering Strength, (the federal government response to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People), a commitment was made to work with other partners and Aboriginal communities to address the rapid increase in diabetes in Aboriginal communities. The announcement in the 1999 Budget provides funding to implement the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI), which is part of the Canadian Diabetes Prevention and Control Strategy (CDPCS). The ADI consists of four key components (education and prevention; care and support; community research; and surveillance and health information) and will allow for the relative emphasis to be provided on each according to priority need. It will focus on the unique needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people and will be linked to the existing First Nations and Inuit Health delivery system, and promote appropriate linkages to provincial services to Métis and off reserve people. The presentation will review the federal government's involvement in Aboriginal diabetes on a national basis.