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First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS) 2002/03 (Child)

Child Questionnaire

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Statistical Highlights
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Notable Findings

(Not applicable for findings, but methodologically significant: included robust questions on traditional language understanding and speaking, participation in cultural events, residential school history of parents and grandparents, and detailed barriers to health and dental care—all setting the stage for culturally aligned health data collection.)

Abstract

This document presents the full standardized child questionnaire used during the 2002/03 First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS). Completed by primary caregivers of children aged 0–11, the survey captured a holistic picture of child wellness across First Nations and Inuit communities. Topics ranged from physical health indicators like asthma and diabetes to emotional well-being, participation in traditional cultural practices, language use, and household composition. It also recorded the impact of residential school history within families, recognizing intergenerational influences on child health. This tool was critical in ensuring that data collected reflected the realities of Indigenous children’s lives, under community governance and in a culturally respectful framework.

RELEASE DATE:

October 18, 2002

CONDUCTED BY:

First Nations and Inuit Regional Health Survey National Steering Committee (FNIRHS), with coordination from regional First Nations and Inuit organizations and administered by local community fieldworkers.

DATA COLLECTION PERIOD:

Data associated with this questionnaire was collected in 2002–03 as part of the first national phase of the RHS.

PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES:

Designed for use across approximately 188 First Nations and Inuit communities involved in RHS Phase 1, targeting primary caregivers of children aged 0–11.

LENGTH & STRUCTURE:

Approximately 22 pages of detailed survey content divided into 15 thematic sections: Personal and Household Information, Traditional Culture & Language, Education, General Health, Health Conditions, Injuries, Health Care Access, Dental Care, Food & Nutrition, Physical Activity, Emotional & Social Well-being, Residential School Legacy, and Child Care Arrangements.

Why It Matters

This questionnaire was essential for gathering health data that recognized First Nations and Inuit children’s realities within the broader context of family, culture, and community. By asking about issues like who teaches children their culture, how often they take part in traditional dancing or drumming, whether grandparents attended residential schools, and detailed barriers to accessing both Western and traditional health care, it ensured that health was never viewed in isolation. It captured how multi-generational homes, language loss or revitalization, housing crowding, and food insecurity all shape child wellness. For Mi’kmaw and other Indigenous communities, this approach validated that true health data must be relational and community-governed to inform supports that reflect lived experiences.

Key Topics

  • Traditional language understanding, speaking, and cultural activities

  • Household structure, food security, and access to safe water and housing

  • Chronic health conditions, mental wellness, and the legacy of residential schools