Arthritis Study

Prevalence, determinants and impact of arthritis and other chronic conditions in the First Nations populations of Canada, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.

Kue Young, Helen Stappers, Ialeen Jones, Susan Chatwood

Project Description

The purpose of this project is to describe the prevalence, impacts and determinants of arthritis and other chronic conditions in First Nations in Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Canada.

Northern populations in the Yukon and Northwest Territories have begun to experience the emergence of chronic diseases such as musculoskeletal diseases, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. Currently, there is little information on the prevalence, burden and impact of chronic conditions among the Northern First Nations populations. The epidemiologic findings from this project will contribute to the understanding of chronic diseases among the First Nations in the NWT, Yukon and Canada. Partnerships with Dene Nation and Council of Yukon First Nations will ensure findings are disseminated in an effective, targeted and meaningful way. The project team will work collaboratively to ensure health research capacity is enhanced within northern organizations. An effective team will ensure long-term sustainable partnerships to enhance research on arthritis and other chronic conditions in northern First Nations populations.

The Partnership

The activities of the project will be carried out through a partnership between academic researchers based at the University of Toronto and University of Manitoba, and First Nations and non-governmental organizations based in the North – the Council of Yukon First Nations, Dene Nation and the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research. This application has the full support of the two northern First Nations organizations, with the participation as co-applicants of Lori Duncan, Director of Health and Social Development of CYFN, and Ialeen Jones, Director of the Health and Social Secretariat. Both oversee activities related to the RHS in their regions and will be in a position to provide direction to this project. They are well positioned to ensure knowledge translation activities are relevant and well targeted. Both also serve on the FNIGC.

Other research partners for the project include, Helen Stappers, the RHS coordinator and data warrior with CYFN. Helen has extensively analyzed the Yukon RHS data. Susan Chatwood is the Executive Director of the Arctic Health Research Network NT, which focuses on building partnerships and enhancing capacity within northern organization to engage in northern health research. For this project, Susan will work directly with the Dene Nation to assist in data analysis and the dissemination of the findings. Additionally, Sharon Bruce is a medical anthropologist at the University of Manitoba and has been principal investigator of several diabetes projects in Sandy Bay First Nation in Southern Manitoba and the Swampy Cree Tribal Council in Northern Manitoba. Kue Young is an expert in chronic diseases among the First Nations population and is the principal investigator and project leader of the CIHR Team.