Grant: Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant: Aging

This application is to fund the planning and implementation of a 'first of its kind' forum and meeting between Canadian and American experts aimed at generating mutual research priorities to improve the health of older Aboriginal people through the reduction of risk for falls and related injuries. The goal of this meeting is to launch a collaborative process for generating, translating and disseminating knowledge to bring about innovative solutions that build on the traditional health practices of Aboriginal communities. This meeting is in alignment with the intent of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Indigenous Health between Canada and the United States of America for 2007-2012 to raise the health status of First Nations people and Inuit in Canada, and American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, through a shared interest in the identification and reinforcement of best practices. The forum and meeting will be held on May 2-3, 2011 at the Ceremonial Hall in the First Peoples House, University of Victoria. The aim of the Public Forum is to raise awareness about falls and related injuries among older Aboriginal people, with a keynote address by an international expert and expert panel presentations and discussion. The meeting, the following day, will provide a unique opportunity for research experts and stakeholders from across Canada and the United States, to identify barriers and potential solutions. Stakeholders will include representatives of Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal Elders, local and international experts in older Aboriginal Peoples' health promotion, and experts on fall and injury prevention research among older adults. The ultimate goal of this meeting will be to establish an international research team and advisory committee to formulate a community development approach to the study of culturally appropriate processes and interventions for the prevention of falls and fall-related injuries.