Grant: Dissemination Events - PA: First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health

The First Nations population is aging, and the incidence of chronic and terminal disease is increasing. First Nations people are dying of illnesses where they could benefit from palliative care services; however, these services are not available in First Nations communities. Further, there is currently little understanding amongst health care decision makers about Indigenous views of death and dying or the palliative care needs within First Nations communities. Such knowledge is needed to guide development of locally based and culturally appropriate palliative care programs in First Nations communities. Since 2010, a CIHR funded research team based at Lakehead University has been working in partnership with four First Nations communities in Ontario and Manitoba to address this gap in knowledge. On February 6 and 7th, 2013, a meeting will be held in Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Ontario at the Polytechnic Grand River Room. This meeting, hosted by the Six Nations Palliative Care Leadership Team, will include members of the four First Nations communities participating in the research, health care decision makers and members of the research team. On the first day, the participants will share the research evidence generated from community needs assessments and collaborate to create a policy framework and practices guidelines that address identified gaps and needs. On day two, the meeting will expand to engage decision makers for health policy and practice. These decision makers will participate in a dialogue that aims to improve access to culturally appropriate palliative care services within First Nations communities and create culturally appropriate local palliative care programs. A desired outcome of the two day meeting is a new alliance of First Nations and healthcare stakeholders that will continue to work together to create program and policy guidelines that improve access to palliative care health services for this growing population.