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Outcomes of the

Circumpolar Inuit Health

Summit

NAHO National Conference

November 24th - 26th 2009

Pictures: Yvonne Moorhouse, Eric Loring

Eva Kruemmel

Senior Health Research Officer

Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)

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ICC: Who we are

The Inuit Circumpolar Council advocates for Inuit rights

internationally.

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ICC: What we do

• Human rights

• Environment

• Health

• Sustainable use of wildlife

• Biodiversity

• Culture and Language

• Arctic Sovereignty

Pictures: Eric Loring, Larisa Arbyutina

pres.

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Circumpolar Health

• Guided by Utqiaġvik Declaration, led by ICC

Canada

• Development of Circumpolar Inuit Health Action

Plan

• Establishment of Circumpolar Inuit Health

Steering Committee

– First meeting and report – September 2008

– Another meeting planned for next year

• Circumpolar Health Summit July 9 – 10 2009

Yellowknife

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Circumpolar Inuit Health Summit

Objectives

• Share information on national initiatives and

approaches to Inuit health policies and promising

practices from across the circumpolar region

• Identify recommendations to be put to the next ICC

General Assembly to be held in Greenland in 2010

Pictures: Eva Kruemmel, Larisa Arbyutina pres.

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Summit outcomes: Major health issues

– Substance abuse, particularly

alcohol and drugs

– Suicide

– Mental health

– Infectious diseases in

particular sexually transmitted

infections, and tuberculosis

– Non-communicable diseases

particularly cancer,

cardiovascular and diabetes

– Injuries

Pictures: Eva Kruemmel

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Summit outcomes: Factors playing a substantial role in

affecting Inuit health

• Inadequate diet and the diminishing consumption of country foods

• Environmental contamination

• The physical impact of climate change on communities, wildlife and the physical environment

• Substandard living conditions including chronic housing shortage and overcrowding

• Poor dental hygiene

• Limited access to health care in some regions

Pictures: AMAP, Larisa Arbyutina pres.

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Summit outcomes: Broader issues with significant and long lasting effects

• Formal education system needs to enhance the holistic issue of Inuit health

• Important role of families

• Lingering effects of assimilation policies

• Impact of government health policies which do not take into account the cultural aspects of Inuit communities

• Need for Inuit-specific health databases

Picture: Eva Kruemmel

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Good practices

• Greenland: Health Month of

May; Documentation Centre

on Children and Youth (MIPI).

• Russia: Multi-functional

mobile medical units

• Canada: Family Resource

Centre (Clyde River); Nunavik

Sport/School Program; the

return of the use of dog

teams in northern Canada

• Alaska: Healthy

Communities initiative (North

Slope Borough)

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Next steps

• Using ICC as the unified

voice to promote Inuit

interests in international,

regional and national/state

forums

• Stressing that the health and

wellbeing of our children is

our priority

• All levels of society need to

take responsibility for Inuit

health and well-being

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Funding support

• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

• Inuit Tuttarvingat, National

Aboriginal Health Organization

• Circumpolar Liaison Directorate,

Indian & Northern Affairs Canada

• Nasivvik

• Health Canada

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Qujannamiik! Nakurmiik! Thanks!

• To all Summit participants for

sharing their knowledge!

• To you for listening!

Picture: Pitseolalaq Moss-Davies