Abstract
This one-page document provided an overview of the thematic structure of the RHS Phase 2 survey instruments for Adults, Youth, and Children. Developed by the First Nations Information Governance Committee (FNIGC), the themes were selected to reflect culturally grounded health priorities while maintaining comparability with national surveys. Though not a data report, it outlined the intended topics for future data collection, such as chronic illness, mental health, cultural identity, and food security. The structure emphasized a life-stage approach and introduced new focus areas like caregiving and community wellness.
By naming and organizing these themes in advance, the sheet played a crucial role in shaping culturally relevant, community-led health data collection in later RHS phases.
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Why It Matters
This theme sheet laid the groundwork for the next wave of culturally relevant health research in First Nations communities. It guided how questions would be asked across age groups, embedding concerns such as food security, residential schools, caregiving, and traditional medicine. These categories reflected a growing demand for data that mirrors the realities faced in homes and communities—not just hospitals and clinics. By designing questions that capture culturally specific concerns, this document gave First Nations communities more control over how wellness is defined and measured.
The impact is practical: a survey that asks about clean water or spiritual wellness is more likely to capture the full picture of health than one limited to generic illness rates. This matters for Mi’kmaw households where multigenerational caregiving, loss of language, and housing conditions all shape health—but are rarely counted unless we name them.
Key Topics
- Addressed health conditions, substance use, and mental health for adults, youth, and children.
- Integrated cultural topics such as traditional medicine, spirituality, and residential school impacts.
- Added evolving areas of focus including food security, caregiving, and community wellness.
“Knowing the survey asked about food security made me feel seen—we’ve struggled with that for years, and now it’s finally being talked about like it matters.”