Health Canada provides the Environmental Public Health Program in First Nations communities south of 60 degrees that works to identify and prevent environmental public health risks that could adversely impact the health of community residents. It includes public health inspections, monitoring environmental conditions such as drinking water quality, and delivering training and raising awareness about potential environmental public health risks and the steps people can take to protect themselves and their families.

North of 60 degrees, responsibility for environmental public health programming has been devolved to territorial governments or First Nations and Inuit control as part of land-claims settlements.

As part of the Environmental Public Health Program, Health Canada provides funding for the First Nations Environmental Contaminants Program to help First Nations communities identify, understand and reduce the impact of exposure to environmental hazards. Its activities include community-based research, monitoring, surveillance and risk assessment.

Sources:
First Nations and Inuit Health. (2017). Environmental Public Health – accessed November 14, 2018.
Health Canada. (2018). First Nations Environmental Contaminants Program – accessed November 14, 2018.