First Nations communities are intimately connected to their natural environments  and vulnerable to health impacts stemming from contamination and pollution in food and water. As host of the First Nations Environmental Health Innovation Network and one of nine partners, the NCCAH helps facilitate the exchange of environmental health knowledge among researchers and First Nations communities across Canada, while ensuring respect for traditional knowledge. FNEHIN identifies knowledge gaps, and contributes state-of-the-knowledge papers on environmental health issues.

The NCCAH is collaborating on a major national initiative addressing the safety of small drinking water systems in Canada. These are typically located in rural and remote communities, home to many First Nations and Inuit populations. In 2008, 106 First Nations communities were under drinking water advisories; in 2005, an independent government report found significant threats to the safety and quality of 75 per cent of water systems in First Nations communities. As one of six centres in the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health program working together on this project, the NCCAH is contributing a unique Aboriginal perspective.

Environmental health policies can help promote community health by addressing physical, chemical or biological hazards in indoor and outdoor environments. Policies are often the result of highly political processes, with varied impacts on communities, regions and interests. The NCCAH is helping to shed light on Canadian Aboriginal environmental health processes to support improved sharing of information and knowledge. New work in this field highlights respect for Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, and finds that relationships among researchers, communities and decision-makers must be based on trust, respect, empowerment and equity.

The H1N1 pandemic that swept across Canada this past fall had a particularly devastating impact on First Nations communities who are already dealing with issues such as poverty, overcrowded housing, and lack of access to, or control of, health services. The NCCAH responded to this emerging priority by participating in the BC Tripartite H1N1 Partners Group to identify gaps and align resources in H1N1 pandemic planning.