2024-25 Annual report

Advancing reconciliation through First Nations, Inuit and Métis leadership

Working Together

CPAC is advancing reconciliation through meaningful partnerships that put First Nations, Inuit and Métis leadership at the centre of cancer prevention and care efforts. Building on years of relationship-building and trust development, this year marked a pivotal shift toward measurable, community-driven impact.

CPAC executed 52 agreements with First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments and organizations across every jurisdiction in Canada – more than double the previous year’s total. With 94 per cent of funded projects led or co-led by First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations, these partnerships have the potential to benefit more than 750 communities while strengthening First Nations, Inuit and Métis data governance, expanding culturally grounded cancer services and building research capacity.

CPAC also mobilized additional funding to accelerate work, expand engagement and fill critical gaps. This funding supported 18 projects advancing Peoples-specific cancer resources, culturally grounded education, and self-governed research and data initiatives. CPAC also expanded its First Nations, Inuit and Métis advisory structure and met with leaders of 10 Indigenous health organizations across the country to ensure its strategies align with First Nations, Inuit and Métis-led health system priorities.

Strengthening relationships and advancing Indigenous data governance

CPAC continues to support First Nations-, Inuit- and Métis-led data collection and infrastructure to enable more responsive, community-governed cancer systems:

  • Alberta: CPAC supports the Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Alberta FNIGC) to enhance First Nations-governed cancer research and data systems, and increase analytic capacities in data collection, measurement and reporting through training and skills development for First Nations researchers. In addition, learning modules centred around four key First Nation concepts – Relationships, Family as Medicine, Culture as Prevention, and the importance of Indigenous Languages – are helping to advance First Nations Cancer Care through the Alberta First Nations Cancer Strategy and Practice Change Implementation Initiative: Moving Forward (AFNCI-2).
  • Ontario: Kenora Chiefs Advisory upgraded its client registry to a secure, cloud-based system as part of a multi-year initiative to develop and implement a cancer screening tool that will help primary care improve participation and follow-up for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening.
  • Yukon: The Council of Yukon First Nations is enhancing the cancer section of the First Nations Regional Health Survey and co-developing community wellness plans grounded in community voices.
  • National: Building on the stories shared in the pilot episode of the We Won’t Be Ignored docuseries titled Li Kawnsayr: Métis Cancer Journey, the Métis National Council is spearheading the development of a comprehensive Métis cancer health assessment report. This initiative incorporates both qualitative and quantitative data, grounded in Métis worldviews and ways of knowing, and is being created in collaboration with Governing Members, data holders and leading research institutions. The report will serve as a foundational resource to enhance efforts in identifying and understanding the current landscape of Métis cancer data across Canada, while also highlighting key cancer-related priorities and gaps that require attention. This work is driven by the urgent need to expand Métis health research and ensure that Métis communities are better represented in health data and outcomes.

Expanding Peoples-specific cancer services

In Quebec, CPAC funding enabled a transformative partnership between Listuguj (Mi’gmaq) Community Health Services and CISSS de la Gaspésie (Santé Québec). Before this collaboration, cancer screening was virtually nonexistent in the community. Within six months of establishing a dedicated screening desk, more than 100 citizens were screened for cervical, breast and lung cancer.

Beyond these impressive numbers lies a deeper transformation. The local project team created a culturally safe environment by honoring Mi’gmaq oral tradition through storytelling, video and radio programming. Community members shared testimonials and health wisdom in ways that resonated authentically, turning screening from an intimidating medical procedure into a culturally appropriate wellness practice.

This initiative has fostered a genuine screening culture within Listuguj while strengthening community autonomy in healthcare decision-making. In line with their Mi’gmaq culture, families now have another platform to support each other in making informed health choices. The project has further augmented the communities’ prevention initiatives as part of their collective wellbeing.

A similar effort is underway in Nunavut, where CPAC is working closely with the territorial government to establish an organized colorectal cancer screening program for the territory’s 41,572 residents. This foundational initiative is laying the groundwork for future screening programs in cervical, breast and lung cancer, expanding equitable access to healthcare services in the North.

This partnership demonstrates how healthcare systems can work respectfully with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities when they prioritize cultural safety and community leadership. Most importantly, it offers a replicable model showing how partnerships grounded in respect can transform healthcare delivery while honouring First Nations, Inuit and Métis self-determination.

Building research capacity and leadership

CPAC is strengthening First Nations, Inuit and Métis cancer research through multiple complementary initiatives. For example, CPAC is funding development of a national Indigenous Cancer Research Network to support infrastructure, relationship-building and coordination while strengthening First Nations, Inuit and Métis leadership and collaboration in cancer research, with a national gathering planned to support cross-regional knowledge exchange.

Through a partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society, CPAC continues to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis trainee awards, including funding for Indigenous PhD students conducting cancer research. These awards help grow the next generation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis researchers and health leaders as part of a long-term investment in First Nations, Inuit and Métis leadership in health research.

CPAC supported the Northern Biobank Initiative which is working to establish a safe, culturally grounded, First Nations-led biobank in northern BC. This initiative reflects the importance of Indigenous leadership in defining how biospecimens and annotated data are collected, stored and used in research.

Embedding reconciliation across CPAC

CPAC continues to embed reconciliation across the organization as part of a fundamental shift from awareness to action. Cultural competence and humility training is mandatory for new staff, and nearly half of CPAC employees are strengthening the internal understanding of First Nations data governance by completing OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession) training. All teams are also required to plan and implement initiatives and projects that support advancement along CPAC’s reconciliation journey.

To deepen its commitment, CPAC expanded its First Nations, Inuit and Métis Advisory structure, bringing in additional advisors with strong community health expertise. These efforts support a broader shift from awareness to action, equipping staff across the organization to apply reconciliation principles in their daily work.

CPAC also demonstrated this commitment to building relationships and momentum through strategic knowledge-sharing events throughout the year:

  • In September 2024, a national pan-Canadian meeting brought together 55 participants representing 35 different funded projects to celebrate the launch of their projects, discuss key topics such as evaluation and connect with fellow attendees in both thematic and jurisdictional breakout sessions. Most significantly, a March 2025 gathering brought together First Nations, Inuit and Métis and cancer system partners for the first time, with more than 70 participants exploring Peoples-specific approaches to system performance reporting and data governance.
  • Virtual community of practice sessions supported ongoing peer learning, engagement and Indigenous-led data system development.

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