The presentation discusses the Aboriginal Health Human Resource Initiative (AHHRI), which aims to increase the representation of Aboriginal peoples in health careers to address the health disparities faced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations. It outlines research objectives, methodologies, census data trends from 1996 to 2006, and highlights barriers such as data collection issues and undercounting in certain areas. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of culturally respectful health service delivery and provides a baseline for future health workforce planning.

1. Aboriginal health human resources:
Access to health, healing and wellness
Emily Lecompte
Health Canada, First Nations Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB)
Presented at the National Aboriginal Health Organization Conference
November 24th - 26th, 2009

2. Presentation Overview
• Background
• Research Objectives
• Research Methodology
• Results: Census Statistics
• Difficulties related to data collection
• Limitations
• Strengths
• Online Information Resources
• Contact Information

3. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
Background
• Literature recognizes the disproportionately high rates of ill
health among Aboriginal people compared to their non-
Aboriginal counterparts (Tookenay, 1996; Durie, 2004).
•To better address the needs and concerns of First Nations,
Inuit and Métis people, one must understand the issues that
have dramatically affected their culture, values, traditions,
lifestyles and families.

4. Growth of the Canadian Aboriginal Population
BACKGROUND
Canadian Aboriginal identity is on the rise (1996 – 2006):
Canadian Aboriginal people now account for 3.8% of the national population
1500000
# of individuals
1250000
1000000 Métis
Inuit
750000
First Nations
500000 Total
250000
0
1996 2001 2006
(Statistics Canada, 2008b; 2005)

5. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
Participation of Indian reserves in the Census is improving
90
# of Indian reserves
80
70
60
50 Incompletely
40 enumerated
Indian Reserves
30
20
10
0
1996 2001 2006
(Statistics Canada, 2008)

6. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
Project Rationale:
• The Aboriginal Health Human Resource Initiative (AHHRI)
seeks to increase the representation of Aboriginal people
(First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) in health careers across
geographic locations through programs and strategies that
respond to the needs of Aboriginal Canadians.
• By increasing the number of skillful, knowledgeable, and
certified Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal HHR, health service
delivery may be provided in a more culturally respectful
way.

7. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
1. To examine labour force characteristics and Census data in order to better
illustrate and explain trends in health care occupations
2. To provide a more complete portrait of the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
workforce in health occupations with the use of census data collected on
three separate occasions from 1996 to 2006.
3. To highlight cumulative tendencies in the field of heath care as a means to
better understand and predict future outcomes in the supply, demand,
recruitment and retention of health care providers.

8. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
METHODOLOGY
Data source:
• Results from the long form questionnaires (20% data sample) of the 1996,
2001, and 2006 national censuses from Statistics Canada were utilized.
The long form of the Census questionnaire is given to one in every five
households (20%) across Canada.
Analytical techniques:
• Descriptive statistics are used to illustrate trends in health occupations
over the three consecutive census periods (1996, 2001, and 2006).

9. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
1996, 2001 & 2006 CENSUS STATISTICS
Non-Aboriginal Aboriginal Health
Total Health Human
Health Human Human Resources
Resources (HHR)
Resources (AHHR)
757 995 8 840 766 830
1996 Census
(98.8%) (1.2%) (100%)
844 675 13 980 858 655
2001 Census
(98.4%) (1.6%) (100%)
990 805 21 805 1 012 610
2006 Census
(97.85%) (2.15%) (100%)
(Statistics Canada, 2003a; 2003b; 2008)

10. http://www.scholastic.ca/bookfairs/contact/images/map_of_canada_english.gif
Distribution of the 2006 AHHR across Canada
Distribution of AHHR
285 120
105
2 190
475
30
3 065
530
3 230 4 035 305
2 020 5 415
(Statistics Canada, 2008)

11. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
CENSUS STATISTICS
Distribution of Aboriginal Canadians in health careers:
On-Reserve Off-Reserve
2800
2400
Métis
# of People
2000 Inuit
1600 First Nations
1200
800
400
0
1996 2001 2006
NB: Health Canada fully recognizes that the Inuit people do not reside in on-reserve areas
however, Statistics Canada does not make this distinction and include both Inuit and Métis
people in on- and off-reserve areas of residence.
(Statistics Canada, 2003a; 2003b; 2008)

12. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
GENDER IN THE WORKPLACE
Distribution of Aboriginal Men and Women in health careers:
20000
18000
16000
# of People
14000
12000 Aboriginal Men
10000 Aboriginal Women
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
1996 2001 2006
(Statistics Canada, 2003a; 2003b; 2008)

13. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
GENDER DISTRIBUTION IN HEALTH CAREERS
(Total population) 94% ♀
100%
80%
60%
Women
40% Men
20%
0%
Specialist GP & Fam. Registered Dentists
Physicians Physicians Nurses
(Statistics Canada, 2008)

14. Proportion of AHHR growth in Canada
between 1996Supply & Distribution of AHHR
Geographic – 2001 & 2001 - 2006
Aboriginal Health Human Resources
Health Care Occupation ‘96 Census ‘01 Census ‘06 Census 96 – 01 01 – 06
Registered Nurses 2 335 3 250 5 360 ↑39% ↑65%
Midwives & Practitioners
of Natural Healing
55 185 285 ↑236% ↑54%
Dieticians & Nutritionists 25 110 140 ↑340% ↑27%
General Practitioners &
Family Physicians
65 135 225 ↑108% ↑67%
Specialist Physicians 25 70 100 ↑180% ↑43%
Occupational Therapists 30 50 70 ↑67% ↑40%
(Statistics Canada, 2003a; 2003b; 2008)

15. Proportion of AHHR growth in Canada
Geographic Supply &–Distribution of AHHR
between 1996 2006
Aboriginal Health Human Resources
# of position
% increases
Health Care Occupation ‘96 Census ‘06 Census increases
96 – 06
since 1996
Registered Nurses 2 335 5 360 ↑3 025 ↑130%
Midwives & Practitioners
of Natural Healing
55 285 ↑230 ↑418%
Dieticians & Nutritionists 25 140 ↑115 ↑460%
General Practitioners &
Family Physicians
65 225 ↑160 ↑246%
Specialist Physicians 25 100 ↑75 ↑300%
Occupational Therapists 30 70 ↑40 ↑133%
(Statistics Canada, 2003a; 2008)

16. AHHR
Age distribution of health care providersAHHR
Geographic Supply & Distribution of HHR
Census
Age
1996 2001 2006
48 890 (6.45%) 61 577 (7.29%) 76 985 (7.77%)
15 – 24 yrs.
885 (10.01%) 11 855 (8.48%) 2 335 (10.71%)
450 476 (59.43%) 450 718 (53.36%) 481 927 (48.64%)
25 – 44 yrs.
5 450 (61.65%) 8 480 (60.66%) 11 945 (54.78%)
244 908 (32.31%) 317 766 (37.62%) 407 914 (41.17%)
45 – 64 yrs.
2 470 (27.94%) 4 234 (30.29%) 7 305 (33.50%)
13 719 (1.81%) 14 613 (1.73%) 23 977 (2.42%)
65 yrs +
354 (0.40%) 797 (0.57%) 220 (1.01%)
x / 757 995 x / 844 675 x / 990 805
Total people
x / 8 840 x / 13 980 x / 21 805
(Statistics Canada, 2003a; 2003b; 2008)

17. Difficulties related to data collection
• Disagreements about what constitutes indigeneity affect the
quality of available data.
• Data on individual health outcomes may not reflect the holistic,
and eco-social or communal, notions of health more likely to
characterize Indigenous perspectives
• Some countries have initiated a process aimed at addressing the
consequences of conquest and colonial oppression. This is
reflected in the greater amount of information available on
health.
http://www.who.int/social_determinants/resources/indigeno
us_health_adelaide_report_07.pdf

18. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
LIMITATIONS
• Undercount of certain Aboriginal settlements and reserves
may undermine and misrepresent the circumstances and
needs of concerned areas.
• Generalization of data is limited to Federal/Provincial/
Territorial level due to concerns of confidentiality
• Set of information collected by the Census regarding
occupations in health care is limited

19. Geographic Supply & Distribution of AHHR
STRENGTHS
• Census data attempts to count the entire Canadian
population through a cross-sectional lens.
• Provides a baseline of data that furthers the understanding
of trends in health occupations on a national, provincial,
and territorial basis as well as in on- and off-reserve areas.
• Baseline data is important for planning purposes, thus to
inform program and policy design

20. Aboriginal health human resources in Canada
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
AHHRI OR FIRST NATION AND INUIT HEALTH:
AHHRI: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/activit/strateg/ahhri-irrhs_e.html
FNIHB: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/index_e.html
First Nations Health Managers Fact Sheet:
http://www.fnhealthmanagers.ca/docs/e/FNHM_Factsheet.pdf
First Nations and Inuit Health Program Compendium:
http://www.fnhealthmanagers.ca/docs/e/FNIHB%20Program%20Compendi
um%202007_e.pdf
Definitions, data sources and methods used by Statistics Canada:
http://www.statcan.ca/english/concepts/index.htm

21. Aboriginal Health Human Resource Initiative
Contact information
Emily Lecompte
Aboriginal Health Human Resource Initiative (AHHRI)
First Nations Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Health Canada
Emily_Lecompte@hc-sc.gc.ca