The health of First Nations children and the environment : Santé des enfants des Premières Nations et l'environnement : document de travail

The Health of First Nations Children and the Environment Discussion Paper Assembly of First Nations Environmental Stewardship Unit March, 2008 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION. [...] According to Health Canada’s Report, A Statistical Profile on the Health of First Nations in Canada for the Year 2000, First Nations have a lower life expectancy at birth, higher rates of chronic and contagious diseases and higher suicide rates than the rest of the Canadian population. [...] Although “children” are not specifically referenced in the existing substances provisions of CEPA 1999, the protection of children’s health is an important component of activities related to the identification and assessment of existing substances that may pose a risk to the health and well-being of children in Canada. [...] The Aboriginal Children’s Survey (ACS) is national in scope and intends to collect information on the health and development of Aboriginal children (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) under 6 years of age, living in Canada. [...] The main objective of the survey is to provide a comprehensive picture on the health, social and economic characteristics of Aboriginal children under the age of 6. It is hoped that this will help to provide fill an important gap in the availability of information on their development and well-being.