In the language of my people, the Ojibway or Anishinaabeg, "Pimatiziwin" is the concept we use to describe health, as walking in balance of all aspects of our lives - emotional, mental, spiritual, physical. This is a concept shared by the Ojibway, Cree, OjiCree, Dakota and Dene peoples within our region called Manitoba, where the Great Spirit sits. This view of the holistic nature of health is shared by indigenous peoples around the world. As such, health is the foundation of all that we do, and remains a priority for our people.
It was an honour for me to open the Manitoba First Nations Centre for Aboriginal Health Research at the University of Manitoba in April 2001, and it is an honour now to see the first publication of some results of our research and collaboration. We support these types of research partnerships which address some of the major concerns we have, such as chronic diseases and suicide. And we welcome the increasing numbers of our own people who are undertaking research and addressing the issues from our own perspectives, and challenging the 'status quo' in health concepts, health care, and First Nations governance.
We are proud of the work of the First Nations health technicians serving on the AMC Health Information Research Committee, who review proposals for research for First Nations to ensure First Nations rights to be fully involved in all aspects of research, and to ensure the benefits flow to the First Nations. We applaud the leadership of the original First Nations people working in Manitoba on the 1997 Regional Health Survey, and across Canada in the National survey, and encourage our leaders in continuing with this important work.
The cover design of this supplement speaks to the role that modern biomedicine may have within the holistic framework of traditional health and medicine. We anticipate that First Nations will have an ever-increasing role in determining the research to be undertaken and the methodologies used, as self-determination is the universal watchword for indigenous peoples in all aspects of our lives. This CJPH supplement will serve as a milestone in partnership development in First Nations health research.
Meegwetch!
[Author Affiliation]
Grand Chief Dennis White Bird
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