FNAAP Meetings


The First Nations Addictions Advisory Panel was a time-limited body and has completed its term in the NNADAP process. The following is a list of meetings that took place while the Panel was operational.

Edmonton – May ‘08

The first meeting of the First Nations Addictions Advisory Panel (FNAAP) took place in Edmonton, Alberta in May of 2008. The meeting focused on outlining the scope of work ahead for FNAAP. This involved an overview of on-reserve addiction services, including presentations on the history of NNADAP; the 1998 NNADAP Review (PDF); and examples of current best and promising practices within the program. As well, there were presentations on other key mental health and addiction strategies, such as the National Treatment Strategy (URL) and the BC Mental Health 10-year Plan to inform FNAAP’s work on developing a Renewed Program Framework for NNADAP.

Ottawa – November ‘08

The second meeting of the First Nations Addictions Advisory Panel (FNAAP) took place in Ottawa, ON in November of 2008. The meeting focused on a variety of key issues within NNADAP, including the extent to which services can be more responsive to the needs of Aboriginal women and their families, as well as the preliminary findings of the NNADAP Research Paper that will identify strategies for enhancing the prevention component within the program. There were also presentations from two of the First Nations and Inuit Health Regions on their needs assessment methodologies; a presentation from the National Treatment Strategy (URL) on some of their next steps; and some preliminary discussion around how the Renewed Program Framework for NNADAP will be developed.

Vancouver – June ‘09

The third meeting of the First Nations Addictions Advisory Panel (FNAAP) took place in Vancouver, BC in June of 2009. The meeting included presentations on two of the regional needs assessments and three of the NNADAP Research Papers. As well, there was also presentation on the Aboriginal Offender Substance Abuse Program (URL), which is an example of a national program that is firmly based in culture and, at the same time, incorporates recognized best practices in the treatment of substance abuse. Finally, there was significant discussion about how the process will move forward in the coming months, including the writing process involved in developing the Renewed Program Framework and the regional and validation exercises to engage First Nations communities and representative organizations across Canada.

Halifax – March ‘10

The fourth meeting of the First Nations Addictions Advisory Panel (FNAAP) took place in Halifax, NS in March of 2010. The focus of the meeting was on discussing the key findings and themes from the completed regional needs assessments and the NNADAP Renewal National Forum. As well, there was also discussion on community-based models of prevention, as well as the proposed systems model for the renewed program framework. Finally, the group identified key strategies for confirming and validating the framework, once it has been drafted.

Ottawa – September ‘10

The fifth and final meeting of the First Nations Addictions Advisory Panel (FNAAP) took place in Ottawa, ON in September of 2010. This meeting was a joint meeting with the NNADAP Renewal Leadership Team, in which leadership of the process transitioned from FNAAP (responsible for guiding the development of the framework) to the Leadership Team (responsible for guiding the implementation of the framework). The focus of this meet was on reviewing a draft of the renewed program framework, and discussing confirmation activities with communities and partners.