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

Youth Questionnaire

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Statistical Highlights
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Notable Findings

(Not applicable for findings, but methodologically notable for including in-depth, culturally relevant items such as importance of language, traditional ceremonies, residential school impacts across grandparents and parents, perceived balance in physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual life, and direct questions on who teaches youth their culture.)

Abstract

This document presents the official youth questionnaire used for the 2002/03 First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS), targeting adolescents aged 12–17. As a self-administered instrument, it collected comprehensive data on living environment, cultural language use, traditional practices, educational experiences, personal health conditions, mental and emotional wellness, substance use, sexual health practices, social supports, and the intergenerational effects of residential schools. Administered under the governance of First Nations and Inuit organizations, it ensured data gathering was grounded in community realities and cultural respect, providing the critical tool for understanding youth well-being within family, community, and cultural contexts.

RELEASE DATE:

October 18, 2002

CONDUCTED BY:

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

DATA COLLECTION PERIOD:

2002–03, part of the first national phase of the RHS.

PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES:

Designed for youth aged 12–17 in roughly 188 First Nations and Inuit communities participating in RHS Phase 1, with local delivery by trained fieldworkers.

LENGTH & STRUCTURE:

Approximately 31 pages, divided into 14 thematic sections: Personal Background, Household Environment, Language & Culture, Education, General Health, Food & Nutrition, Physical Activity, Health Conditions, Injuries, Health Care & Dental Care, Lifestyle (substance use, sexual health), Personal Wellness & Support, Residential Schools, and concluding Assistance section.

Why It Matters

This questionnaire was vital in capturing the voices of First Nations and Inuit youth about what shapes their health, resilience, and risks. It did not just track physical conditions like asthma or injury; it explored balance across physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual domains. It asked who taught youth about their culture, how often they danced, drummed or sang traditionally, who they turned to with problems from depression to birth control, and how residential school legacies impacted their family stories. By placing youth experiences in their proper cultural, social, and intergenerational context, it allowed Mi’kmaw and other communities to later analyze how identity, language, housing, diet, and community strengths intersect with health outcomes. It created data that truly belonged to the youth who shared it, framed by their lives—not just by statistics.

Key Topics

  • Emotional wellness, personal support networks, and community safety

  • Cultural knowledge, language, traditional events, and residential school family history

  • Substance use, sexual health, chronic conditions, and food security