On-Reserve First Nations and Inuit Health Research Capacity Building Workshop Coming Early 2011! Ottawa, Ontario

HIV/AIDS is an ongoing concern in First Nations and Inuit communities and new knowledge is needed to further develop targeted and culturally appropriate programs and policies for HIV-related prevention, education, care, treatment and support. Community-based research is an ideal mechanism for generating this new knowledge. In community-based research, First Nations and Inuit communities are in the driver’s seat, directing the research and ensuring that their communities’ needs are met.

Health Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and in collaboration with the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, the Assembly of First Nations, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network, will be hosting a two-day skills-building workshop in early 2011. This workshop will be of interest to First Nations and Inuit community-based representatives/ researchers who are at an intermediate to advanced stage of developing an HIV/AIDS-related research proposal that will benefit at least First Nations on-reserve or Inuit communities south of the 60th degree parallel. Workshop participants will gain valuable knowledge in how to find and access research funding opportunities, how to develop strong community-based research teams, and how to craft a research proposal to improve their chances of being funded.

To support First Nations and Inuit community-based representatives/researchers to build their capacity for conducting HIV/AIDS-related community-based research, Health Canada will be providing funds to attend this workshop through a travel award competition.

Application details will be announced soon!