Yellowknife (May 09/03) - Aboriginal health was the focus of a forum attracting people from all over the North to Yellowknife this week.

From May Wednesday through today, participants in the Northern Aboriginal Health Organization's (NAHO) forum exchanged ideas on issues affecting the health of aboriginals in the North.

The forum, titled Aboriginal Health - Gaining Knowledge, kicked off with Yellowknife Mayor Gordon Van Tighem welcoming the participants and speakers.

"I look forward to the recommendations that will come from this," he said.

The forum was divided into four plenary sessions dealing with a variety of issues from nutrition to traditional knowledge.

"These issues are very important to aboriginals in the NWT. There is a fast moving pace of growth in NWT and with the positive we are also getting the problems as well," said Richard Edjericon, chief of the Yellowknives Dene First Nations in Dettah, during his welcoming speech on Wednesday.

He mentioned such problems as drugs and alcohol, and was very concerned with the housing shortage the North is facing.

Another issue for Edjericon was that while the UN ranks Canada in the top countries to live in, First Nations -- using the same UN formula -- ranks 61.

"It's important that we send the message to the government that they have to start working with aboriginals in the North," he said.

Darrell Beaulieu, chief of the Yellowknives Dene First Nations at Ndilo, followed Edjericon and noted that today's lifestyle is much different than what their ancestors were used to.

"Our lifestyle has completely changed.

"There are not too many people who are living our traditional lifestyle and we need to think about that," he said.

The first session was an overview on the NAHO followed the forum's opening remarks.

The second session, "The Environment and Aboriginal People's Health," dealt with trends and information about the relationship between health and the environment.

The second day featured a discussion on the issues, challenges and barriers for aboriginal peoples with disabilities in the North.