Canadian Indigenous engagement and capacity building in health impact assessment

Abstract

Consultations with concerned stakeholders are a cornerstone to effective impact assessment, not only within Canada, but internationally as well. The environment is of paramount importance to Indigenous communities, as many continue to rely heavily on the land and natural resources for their subsistence, including their socio-economic, cultural, spiritual and physical survival. Indigenous communities want reassurances from governments and industry that negative impacts associated with projects, programs or policies in their territories will be minimized and that positive impacts will be maximized. Communities want to be involved in the development, implementation and interpretation of the impact assessment report to assure themselves of the environmental, social, spiritual and health impacts associated with the exploitation of the local natural resources. This paper presents efforts by the Environmental Health Research Division of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada, to assist Indigenous communities in carrying out community-based research to improve health and well-being by building and supporting their capacity to identify, understand and control impacts associated with projects, programs or policies implemented within their territories.