About Us
Our parent organization, Arctic Health Research Network -YT (AHRN-YT), was formed in February 2007 and was part of a tri-territorial health research network linking northern regions. AHRN-YT's purpose was to facilitate northern-led community-based health research and our focus was with Yukon First Nation communities. Our organization has grown and evolved over the last several years to better meet the research needs of northern communities. AHRN-YT is now transitioning into the Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research (AICBR); for northern health and well-being. We believe that this will more accurately reflect the reality of community-based research as one where funds and partners from multiple sources can contribute to solutions to complex issues that go beyond health specifically.
Background
The need for a tri-territorial health research network to link Nunavut (NU), the Northwest Territories (NT) and the Yukon (YT) was identified during the development of a research proposal called, "Averting Chronic Diseases in Northern Populations" in 2005. The Principal Investigator of the proposal, Dr. Kue Young from the University of Toronto, had been investigating chronic diseases in Southern Canadian aboriginal populations for some time.
His vision was to use the knowledge he'd gained to benefit aboriginal populations in Northern Canada particularly in relation to diabetes, to build health research capacity in Northern Canada, and to work on this project with other circumpolar countries. The 5-year proposal was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and began in 2006. It has provided seed funding to initiate the development of the tri-territorial network. Each Territory has used their regional seed funding to develop partnerships and projects that are responsive to regional priorities and issues.
Our early focus is particularly with Yukon First Nations (indigenous), using both a community-based research paradigm and methodology.
AICBR was registered as a non-profit society in 2007.
We are based in the capital city of Canada’s Yukon Territory, Whitehorse. Please visit our Contact Us page if you would like to get in touch with us.