Digital Commons Network^™

Aboriginal Women Working In Vocational Training And Education: A Story From Central Australia, Kate Lawrence

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

This article outlines research undertaken by an Aboriginal women’s non-government organization (NGO) into vocational training and education (VTE) needs and issues for remote Aboriginal communities in Central Australia. It describes the Central Australian context, and in particular the impact of remoteness, inequity and disadvantage upon Aboriginal people’s access to and participation in VTE. Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi (Waltja) is an Aboriginal NGO based in Alice Springs, at the centre of the desert region of inland Australia. Waltja supports the development of family services and the self-determination of remote Central Australian Aboriginal communities. Senior Aboriginal women from widespread communities govern Waltja. In …

Claiming Space: Aboriginal Students Within School Landscapes, Cathy Van Ingen, Joannie Halas

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

There is an emerging body of theoretical, historical and design research that examines the ways in which race and cultural identity are understood to be produced and represented in the landscape. Yet, there remains a dearth of research examining both the historic and contemporary effects of race upon the development of school geographies. This paper has two broad purposes. It highlights the experiential aspects of racialized geographies within schools and, at the same time, it grapples with the processes that maintain or challenge the spatial conditions for the construction of whiteness. Drawing upon in-depth case study research this paper highlights …

Environmental Governance Literature Review Report, Christopher Paci

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Suicide In The Northern Territory, 1981–2002, Mary-Anne L. Measey, Shu Qin Li, Robert Parker, Zhiqiang Wang

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Objective: To examine trends in suicide in the Northern Territory between 1981 and 2002, and demographic and other characteristics of people completing suicide in the Top End region in 2000–2002. Design: Retrospective descriptive analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics death registration data and data from the NT Coroner’s Office.

Setting and participants: All residents of the NT who completed suicide between 1981 and 2002. Main outcome measures: Changes in the age-adjusted and age- and sex-specific rates of suicide in Indigenous and non-Indigenous NT residents over time; prior diagnosis of mental illness and use of alcohol or other drugs by those …

Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Suicide In Context, Ernest Hunter, Helen Milroy

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide has been an issue of national public health and mental health concern for only one decade, having increased dramatically from levels that were very low in the late 1980s to levels of young adult male suicide that are now substantially higher than for the non-indigenous population. In this review the authors socially and historically contextualize these changes, identifying the causal frameworks adopted in developing interventions, and present an explanation in narrative and pictorial form that draws on critical family-centered trauma.

Long-Term Trends In Indigenous Deaths From Chronic Diseases In The Northern Territory: A Foot On The Brake, A Foot On The Accelerator, David P. Thomas, John R. Condon, Ian P. Anderson, Shu Q. Li, Stephen Halpin, Joan Cunningham, Steven L. Guthridge

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Objective: To examine trends in Northern Territory Indigenous mortality from chronic diseases other than cancer. Design: A comparison of trends in rates of mortality from six chronic diseases (ischaemic heart disease [IHD], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], cerebrovascular disease [CVD], diabetes mellitus [DM], renal failure [RF] and rheumatic heart disease [RHD]) in the NT Indigenous population with those of the total Australian population.

Participants: NT Indigenous and total Australian populations, 1977–2001. Main outcome measures: Estimated average annual change in chronic disease mortality rates and in mortality rate ratios. Results: DeathratesfromIHDandDMamongNTIndigenouspeoplesincreased between 1977 and 2001, but this increase slowed after 1990. …

The Canadian Water Sustainability Index (Cwsi) Case Study Report, Anne Morin

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

The Policy Research Initiative (PRI) Sustainable Development Team began working on the Canadian Water Sustainability Index (CWSI) in the summer of 20051 as part of a broader project on freshwater2. Inspired by the Water Poverty Index3, the PRI developed a draft framework4 for a composite water index that could be used to assess various elements of water well-being in Canadian communities. This draft CWSI framework provided the basis for a data review and an expert workshop. Outcomes from the data review and the workshop, as well as additional consultation and information sources, were used to further refine the index framework …

Aboriginal Health Workers And Diabetes Care In Remote Community Health Centres: A Mixed Method Analysis, Damin Si, Ross S. Bailie, Samantha J. Togni, Peter H N D'Abbs, Gary W. Robinson

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Objective: To assess the effect of employing Aboriginal health workers (AHWs) on delivery of diabetes care in remote community health centres, and to identify barriers related to AHWs’ involvement in diabetes and other chronic illness care.

Design, setting and participants: Three-year follow-up study of 137 Aboriginal people with type 2 diabetes in seven remote community health centres in the Northern Territory.

Main outcome measures: Delivery of guideline-scheduled diabetes services; intermediate outcomes (glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] and blood pressure levels); number and sex of AHWs at health centres over time; barriers to AHWs’ involvement in chronic illness care.

Results: There was a …

Epilepsy In Indigenous And Non-Indigenous People In Far North Queensland, John Archer, Ruth Bunby

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Objective: To compare patterns of epilepsy in Indigenous and non-Indigenous people presenting to hospital. Study design: Retrospective cross-sectional survey of individuals admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of epilepsy (1 January 2001 – 31 December 2004); presenting to the emergency department with a seizure (2004); or presenting to the epilepsy clinic (1 September 2002 – 31 March 2005). Setting: Cairns Base Hospital, the major referral centre for Far North Queensland, including Cape York and the Torres Strait, with a population of 230 000 (13% Indigenous). Main outcome measures: Proportion of Indigenous patients presenting for epilepsy; proportion of Indigenous and non-Indigenous …

Report On First Nations’ Housing, N.A.

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

This report provides a national, statistical portrait of the housing situation in First Nations communities. Following a brief overview of socioeconomic conditions, statistics are presented related to: housing repair needs, crowding, household amenities, water quality and the presence of smoke, mold and mildew. These results are further broken down by individual (e.g. income, education) and community (size and remoteness) characteristics.

Report On Selected Indicators By Gender, N.A.

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Report On First Nations Seniors’ Report On Selected Indicators By Gender Health And Wellbeing, N.A.

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Injury Profiles Of Indigenous And Non-Indigenous People In New South Wales, Kathleen F. Clapham, Mark R. Stevenson, Sing Kai Lo

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Objectives: To compare the injury profiles of the Indigenous population in New South Wales with that of the non-Indigenous population.

Design and setting: Descriptive analysis of NSW Health data obtained from the Health Outcomes Information and Statistical Toolkit (HOIST) database. Hospitalisation data were collected for the period 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2003. Mortality data were collected for the period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2002.

Main outcome measures: Hospitalisation and death rates due to injury by age, sex, injury mechanism and Indigenous status. Rate ratios for comparison between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Results: Rates of death from …

Indigenous Research: Whose Priority? Journeys And Possibilities Of Cross-Cultural Research In Geography, Paul Hodge, John Lester

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Decolonising research in geography is part of a broader ‘reflexive’ process which continues to question the positivist status of ‘researcher as observer’. This paper contributes to this reflexive turn, drawing on the particular experiences of a cross- cultural Honours thesis. The paper is pursued through a parallel journey involving a non-Indigenous researcher (and author of the cross-cultural Honours thesis) engaging Indigenous research1 with interpretative insight from an Indigenous adviser or ‘on-looker’. The methodological difficulties revealed by the parallel journey are emphasised to highlight both the complexities and reflexive possi- bilities of cross-cultural research but also to consider potential institutional and …

Rec Needs A New Rhythm Cuz Rap Is Where We're Livin', Brett Lashua, Karen Fox

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

This research presents an autoethnographic strategy for self-reflection by sharing stories consistent with Indigenous methodologies and establishing a frame for re-mixing leisure theory. As an autoethnographic study, we reflect on how we have been engaged, changed, and challenged to rethink understandings of leisure and ourselves as leisure scholar-practitioners as a result of listening to rap music, especially composed by Aboriginal young people. We pause on questions related to how Aboriginal young people challenge leisure theory and its relevance to their lives through their rap and hip hop performances.

'Struggling With Language' : Indigenous Movements For Linguistic Security And The Politics Of Local Community, Robert Lee Nichols

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

In this article, I explore the relationship between linguistic diversity and political power. Specifically, I outline some of the ways that linguistic diversity has served as a barrier to the centralization of power, thus constraining, for example, the political practice of empire-formation. A brief historical example of this dynamic is presented in the case of Spanish colonialism of the 16th-century. The article proceeds then to demonstrate how linguistic diversity remains tied to struggles against forms of domination. I argue that in contemporary indigenous movements for linguistic security, the languages themselves are not merely conceived of as the object of the …

Oil And Gas Exploitation On Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ Territories Human Rights, International Law And Corporate Social Responsibility, Rune S. Fjellheim, John B. Henriksen

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

The Resource Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ Gáldu Čála nr 4/2006 con- tains two articles addressing certain core social, legal and economic questions related to oil and gas operations in indigenous areas, written by Mr. Rune Sverre Fjellheim and Mr. John B. Henriksen respectively.

Around the world, including in the Arctic, there are disputes about ownership, utiliza- tion, management and conservation of traditional indigenous lands and resources - often caused by decisions or attempts to use traditional indigenous lands and resources for industrial purposes, including oil and gas exploration. This situation represents an enor- mous challenge, and in …

Indigenous Suicide In New Zealand, Annette L. Beautrais, David M. Fergusson

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

This article describes patterns of suicide and attempted suicide among the indigenous (Ma ̄ori) population of New Zealand using official data from the New Zealand Health Information Service (NZHIS). The majority of Ma ̄ori suicides (75%) occurr in young people aged <35 years. Rates of suicide are higher among Ma ̄ori males and females aged <25 than in their non-Ma ̄ori peers. Rates of hospitalization for attempted suicides are higher amongst Ma ̄ori males aged 15–24, compared to non-Ma ̄ori. In contrast, suicide is virtually unknown amongst older Ma ̄ori (60 years). This article reviews explanations for the observed rates of suicide in Ma ̄ori, and examines approaches to effective intervention to reduce rates of suicide in young Ma ̄ori.

Some Legal Considerations Concerning Saami Rights In Saltwater, Elisabeth Einarsbøl

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

The rights of the coastal Saami form the focus for this paper, which has been written by one of the advisers at the GÁLDU Resource Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It explores the views on the rights of the coastal Saami that prevail today in the light of earlier perceptions and practices within sea fishing. The challenge is to attempt to say something about what this development entails in purely legal terms. The paper is one of the first to seek to provide an overview of what has been done with regard to surveys and research in the …

Indigenous Healing Practices Among Rural Elderly African Americans, Debra A. Harley

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Elderly African Americans residing in rural areas have practiced and continue to practice indige- nous healing practices for various reasons. In addition to the belief in the value of such practices, many of these individuals practice indigenous healing because it is cost effective. In this article information is presented on the history of research on indigenous healing practices, theories and models of indigenous healing in the United States, cultural influence, and views of health care providers regarding such practices. This article concludes with a discussion of the relevance of indigenous healing practices across disciplines and approaches, and recommendations of using …

Suicide In Siberian Aboriginal Groups, David Lester

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

A search of historical documents about suicide in Siberian tribes in the 18th and 19th centuries indicated that they had very high suicide rates. It would be of great interest to explore suicidal behavior in these tribes today.

Introduction, Jerry White, Dan Beavon, Susan Wingert

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Co-chaired by Dan Beavon of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Jerry White of the University of Western Ontario, and Peter Dinsdale of the National Association of Friendship Centres, the conference promoted interaction between researchers, policy-makers, and Aboriginal peoples. It expanded knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic determinants of Aboriginal well-being, and sought to identify and facilitate the means by which this knowledge may be translated into effective policies.

Volume III begins with a look at education and employment transitions, followed by issues of socio-economic well-being, and concludes with some international research.

Culture-Sensitive Mathematics: The Walpole Island Experience, Anthony N. Ezeife

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

The Determinants Of Employment Among Aboriginal Peoples, Corysa Ciceri, Katherine Scott

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

School Completion And Workforce Transitions Among Urban Aboriginal Youth, Paul Maxim, Jerry White

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

A New Approach To Understanding Aboriginal Educational Outcomes: The Role Of Social Capital, Jerry White, Nicholas Spence, Paul Maxim

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Aboriginal Occupational Gap: Causes And Consequences, Costa Kapsalis

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Responding To Climate Change In Nunavut: Policy Recommendations, James Ford, Johanna Wandel

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Building Governance Capacity: The Case Of Potable Water In First Nations Communities, John Graham, Evlyn Fortier

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

Policies And Practices Affecting Aboriginal Fathers’ Involvement With Their Children, Jessica Ball, Ron George

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.