National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation 

On March 10, 2005, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) and the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation (NNAPF) formalized an opportunity to enhance their respective roles and effectiveness with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that brings together the unique strengths of each organization.

Context

It is widely recognized that substance abuse and addictions have a negative impact on the social, health and economic well-being of Canadians, and in particular First Nations families, and that effective partnerships between non-governmental organizations can promote the development of leading-edge research, policies and programs that reduce the harm associated with alcohol and other drugs.

NNAPF and CCSA pledge to work together in a spirit of cooperation, learning and support to share information pertaining to addictions and substance abuse -- which may include the sharing of information and personnel, the conducting of workshops, conferences, seminars and meetings and the production of documents -- and to implement practical means to enhance the development of collaborative efforts between the two organizations.

Highlights of activities to date

• A song documenting the healing experiences of Aboriginal women who have struggled with drug abuse and addiction has been written as part of a Canadian Institutes of Health Research-funded addictions research project being conducted by Colleen Dell of the University of Saskatchewan in partnership with CCSA and the National Addictions Partnership Foundation—Aboriginal Women Drug Users in Conflict with the Law: A Study of the Role of Self-Identity in the Healing Journey. The song, entitled “From Stilettos to Moccasins”, is sung by Violet Naytowhow and was written in collaboration with Aboriginal women who are healing from illicit drug abuse and problems with the law. According to Dell, “The song will be used as a teaching tool with both treatment centres and the general public.” To listen to the song and view the music video online, visit: http://www.addictionresearchchair.com/creating-knowledge/national/cihr-research-project/. 
  To listen to a CBC interview, visit
  http://www.addictionresearchchair.com/wp-content/uploads/CBC-interview.mp3
• In collaboration with CCSA, the University of Calgary, the University of Regina, the University of Saskatchewan and other community partners, a funding proposal was submitted to the Alberta Centre for Child, Family & Community Research to examine the role of equine-assisted learning in the treatment of volatile solvent abuse with indigenous youth
• NNAPF’s Executive Director participated in the International NGO Forum in Vienna, “Beyond 2008”, chaired by CCSA’s Chief Executive Officer
• CCSA presented preliminary findings of the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program Treatment Centre Directors and Addictions Counsellors Workforce project at the 2008 NNAPF Training Seminar.
• In 2008, funding was received from the Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre, University of Saskatchewan, to involve community members with lived experience in analysis of the joint NNAPF, CCSA, University of Saskatchewan CIHR project data. The first finding focused on helpful traits and characteristics of staff in residential treatment and is available in the form of a fact sheet at:
  http://www.addictionresearchchair.com/wp-content/uploads/Staff-Turtle-Findings-FINAL-Feb-3-20091.pdf. In 2008, CCSA and NNAPF presented their work on how women’s experiential stories directed the CIHR project at the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch meeting in Montreal, the Innovations in Qualitative Research conference in Saskatoon, the Madness, Citizenship and Social Justice conference in Vancouver, the annual meeting of the National Network on Aboriginal Mental Health Research in Montreal, and the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program First Nations Addictions Advisory Panel. Initial findings from the project were presented in 2009 at such venues as the 5th International Conference on Indigenous Education in Honolulu, the Saskatchewan Regional NNADAP Symposium on Addiction, the 21st Annual Native Health Research Conference in Portland, and the Saskatchewan FASD: Discovering, Connecting and Creating Change conference
• CCSA and NNAPF, in collaboration with national and international partners, were awarded a Development Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada International Opportunities Fund. The objective is to bring together expertise from Canada, the United States, Australia and Mexico to develop an international research program specific to the treatment of and healing from VSA for indigenous youth, and to share the success of the Canadian experience. One outcome of this grant is information sharing video sessions from each of the participating countries in the topic area. These sessions are available at: http://www.addictionresearchchair.com/creating-knowledge/international/.
  A second outcome is the securing of a Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant: Aboriginal Peoples' Health from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in collaboration with additional national and international partners, with the goal of focusing specifically on stigma and discrimination
• CCSA and NNAPF presented a joint poster entitled Aboriginal Women, Stigma and Healing from Illicit Drug Abuse at the National Institute on Drug Abuse International Forum in Quebec City in June 2007. The poster outlined the main lessons learned in the second stage of the CIHR research project
• In 2006, CCSA provided training at NNAPF's 5th national training conference
• NNAPF and CCSA were accepted to attend the 2006 Canadian Community-Based Research (CBR) Skills Building Institute. This institute focused on the knowledge and skills needed to develop, implement, evaluate and sustain effective CBR partnerships in Canada
• CCSA participated in an opening plenary session and provided training at the 4th national NNAPF training gathering, Balancing Personal and Work Place Wellness, in Vancouver in 2005
• NNAPF is a member of the National Advisory Group on Workforce Development, a CCSA-led initiative to develop a national strategy on the development of the Canadian addictions workforce. Products of this group are aimed at the addictions workforce, including five workforce development toolkits to be released in 2009–2010
• NNAPF participated in and presented at CCSA's 2005 national conference, Issues of Substance, in Toronto. NNAPF also presented at CCSA's 2007 Issues of Substance conference
• In 2005, CCSA participated in and provided training at the 3rd national NNAPF training gathering, Improving Collaboration and Quality of Care: Aboriginal Strategies to Meet the Challenges in Health and Addictions, in Ottawa
• NNAPF, CCSA and other community partners have had their article accepted for the National Aboriginal Health Organization's 2009 winter issue of the Journal of Aboriginal Health
• CCSA participated in and provided training at the 2nd national NNAPF training gathering, Addictions, Mental Health and FASD, in Saskatoon in 2004
• CCSA served in an advisory capacity on NNAPF's Community Emergency Response Program consultation.

This agreement expired in March 2007, and was renewed for a three-year period. It can be renewed again with the consent of both parties.