Eva Kruemmel Senior Health Research Officer Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) NAHO 2009 National Conference

1. NAHO National Conference
November 24th - 26th 2009
Inuit Circumpolar Council
Outcomes of the
Circumpolar Inuit Health
Summit
Eva Kruemmel
Senior Health Research Officer
Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)
Pictures: Yvonne Moorhouse, Eric Loring

2. ICC: Who we are
Inuit Circumpolar Council
The Inuit Circumpolar Council advocates for Inuit rights
internationally.

3. ICC: What we do
Inuit Circumpolar Council
• Human rights
• Environment
• Health
• Sustainable use
of wildlife
• Biodiversity
• Culture and
Language
• Arctic
Sovereignty
Pictures: Eric Loring, Larisa Arbyutina
pres.

4. Circumpolar Health
Inuit Circumpolar Council
• 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

5. Circumpolar Inuit Health Summit
Objectives
Inuit Circumpolar Council
• 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.

6. Summit outcomes: Major health issues
– Substance abuse, particularly
Inuit Circumpolar Council
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

7. Summit outcomes:
Factors playing a substantial role in
affecting Inuit health
Inuit Circumpolar Council
• 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.

8. Summit outcomes: Broader issues with
significant and long lasting effects
Inuit Circumpolar Council
• 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

9. Good practices
• Greenland: Health Month of
Inuit Circumpolar Council
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)

10. Next steps
• Using ICC as the unified
Inuit Circumpolar Council
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

11. Funding support
Inuit Circumpolar Council
• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
• Inuit Tuttarvingat, National
Aboriginal Health Organization
• Circumpolar Liaison Directorate,
Indian & Northern Affairs Canada
• Nasivvik
• Health Canada

12. Qujannamiik! Nakurmiik! Thanks!
Inuit Circumpolar Council
• To all Summit participants for
sharing their knowledge!
• To you for listening!
Picture: Pitseolalaq Moss-Davies