National First Nations Environmental Contaminants Program

The NFNECP’s key objective is to assist Canada’s First Nations people (who reside south of the 60th parallel), to assess the extent of their exposure to environmental contaminants and the potential for associated risk to their health and well-being. The average project value is approximately $150K and the funding mechanism for each project is via contribution agreement with Health Canada.

The program provides funding for community-based research projects that:

• may integrate scientific and traditional methods of enquiry;
• develop new information to assist communities and decision-makers make informed decisions about appropriate actions, policies, and programs; and
• provide evidence to support:
  • remedial activities,
  • an improvement of health and environmental health,
  • advisories,
  • health interventions, and
  • protection of traditional food sources and their environment, etc.

Three enduring values are at the core of NFNECP’s approach to project selection:

• The necessity of community participation, from research design, to decision making and policy change, to practical application and evaluation; and,
• Equity, which includes gender equity, and social, political and economic fairness
• A commitment to multi-disciplinary research and action;

The Program is inspired by a community-based approach to environmental health research. This approach acknowledges the need for a higher degree of integration between human health research activities and meaningful/measurable community participation.

NFNECP Program Management

The NFNECP is a operated through collaborative efforts by the First Nations University of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations and Health Canada. The Program is directly administered by First Nations University in consultation with Health Canada. The Program operates on an annual project funding cycle. The process includes a call for proposals (July), evaluation of proposals (November), selection of projects (January) and project funding.

The selection process is led by FNUniv in conjunction with representatives from regional First Nation organizations.

Program oversight is provided by the National Steering Committee. The Steering Committee provides guidance and direction to the Program. Steering Committee membership includes two representatives from each of the partner organizations and four representatives selected by First Nations University. These selected representatives include two Elders and two youth members. The Committee composition ensures that the Program maintains its focus on First Nations’ issues.