Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative (AHHRI)

The AHHRI is part of the five-year federal commitment to improve health care for Aboriginal people, as announced at the Special Meeting of First Ministers and Aboriginal Leaders in September 2004. The $100 M earmarked for the AHHRI until 2010 confirmed this commitment. The AHHRI activities are national and regional in scope – not community-based.

The purpose of the regional activities of the AHHRI will be to support changes and improvements in the systems to significantly improve the number of First Nations and Inuit individuals in the wide range of health care workers (professionals and paraprofessionals) to meet current and growing health care needs, improve the availability of culturally competent health care providers, and attain and maintain a sufficient supply and mix of health care workers in First Nations and Inuit communities. It is also the intent of the AHHRI to support research into the gaps in health human resources knowledge and to support First Nations and Inuit capacity building to improve the ongoing planning capacity for health human resources.

The FNQLHSSC plays a key role in the AHHRI program in the Quebec region. In addition to being actively involved in developing the regional work plan, the FNQLHSSC also sits on the regional advisory committee. The FNQLHSSC will remain in touch with the health human resources needs of First Nations and will ensure that concrete action is taken to adequately address the needs of communities.

The FNQLHSSC established new partnerships and cooperation with First Nations communities,  various federal departments such as Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Health Canada, Quebec government bodies such as the Ministère de l’éducation, educational institutions, health care associations, etc. The success of the AHHRI depends on these collaborative networks and partnerships.