Innovation Anthology #559:

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More than half of Canada’s aboriginal population lives in urban centres.

But most health research focuses First Nations communities in rural areas.

Public health researcher Dr. Cheryl Currie from the University of Lethbridge hopes to change that trend.

Her recent study of 381 Edmontonians of aboriginal descent indicates many practice their traditional culture despite living in the city.

And Dr. Currie has discovered that those who participate in traditional activities are much less likely to have trouble with drug abuse.

DR. CHERYL CURRIE: Having culture in their lives is something that is protecting them. Perhaps they don’t need to turn to drugs or those who do get into trouble with drugs, perhaps they are using culture to help them heal. And so at this point in the study, we don’t know exactly how culture is protecting. So one of the key findings from the study is that part of the reason culture is protective is that it’s increasing the self esteem of Aboriginal people in cities. But increasing self esteem can’t explain the whole story.

Dr. Cheryl Currie’s study on culture and urban Aboriginal Health is published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.

Thanks today to Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

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I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

STUDY
Illicit and prescription drug problems among urban Aboriginal adults in Canada: The role of traditional culture in protection and resilience
Social Science & Medicine, Volume 88, Issue null, Page 1
Cheryl L. Currie, T. Cameron Wild, Donald P. Schopflocher, Lory Laing, Paul Veugelers

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Sponsor

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates (formerly Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions)

As the newly formed Alberta Innovates corporation, we still fund top quality, internationally competitive health research and innovation activities to improve the health and wellbeing of Albertans. We provide leadership for Alberta’s health research and innovation enterprise by directing, coordinating, reviewing, funding and supporting research and innovation.

Working with our many partners  in the health system, we ensure that research achieves innovation in care, policy and practice, and that the needs of patients and clinicians influence research.

Our background

Alberta Innovates consolidation was launched November 1, 2016.

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions was established as part of the Alberta Innovates system by an Act of Legislation of the Government of Alberta. It is a agency  of the Government of Alberta. We receive a yearly allocation from the Ministry of Health and report through the ministry to the people of Alberta.

Our Mandate and Roles document reflects our role and responsibilities and outlines the government statues and regulations with which we comply.

Alberta’s Health Research and Innovation Strategy (AHRIS) sets out Alberta’s health research agenda for the coming decade to ensure our considerable investments in research align with our priority—to improve the health of Albertans.

 

 

Program Date: 2013-05-21