Urban First Nations and Inuit older adults are aging in a Western-centric sociopolitical environment that is experiencing significant social change due to population aging and urbanization. Consequently, urban communities are facing increasing pressures to respond to the needs of the growing older adult population. As a result of these pressures, older adults are urged to "age well" to reduce their "burden" on society; however, older adults do not all define aging well in the same way and they do not all have the same opportunities to age well. Through my research, I aimed to address a gap in the academic literature concerning urban-dwelling First Nations and Inuit older adults and aging well. Ultimately, my goal was to identify how First Nations and Inuit older adults living in Ottawa could be supported to age well in ways that reflect their urban Indigenous identities, cultural perspectives, and life course. My specific research questions are four-fold: 1) Are Indigenous older adults marginalized through dominant aging well frameworks?; 2) how do community-dwelling First Nations and Inuit older adults (aged 55 years and over) living in Ottawa, Canada, define and negotiate aging well in an urban environment?; 3) what community-level factors contribute to First Nations and Inuit older adults (aged 55 years and over) feeling supported to age well in the city of Ottawa?; and 4) how do community stakeholders in Ottawa produce understandings of supporting urban Indigenous older adults to age well? Informed by a postcolonial theoretical framework, I conducted this research using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) methodology in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in partnerships with the Odawa Native Friendship Centre and Tungasuvvingat Inuit. To address my research questions, I conducted semi-structured interviews with nine First Nations older adults, focus groups with 23 Inuit older adults, and photovoice with two First Nations older adults. Additionally, I conducted 13 semi-structured interviews with community stakeholders (i.e., decision-makers and service providers. My doctoral research makes novel contributions to the fields of kinesiology and gerontology by expanding postcolonial theory to issues related to aging research with urban Indigenous older adults; contributing to the emerging literature that brings diverse perspectives into conversations on aging well; challenging assumptions related to urban Indigenous populations and aging well; illustrating the tensions within aging well initiatives that intended to be available for all older adults; and revealing the tensions within efforts to address reconciliation with Indigenous older adults.

How well do the places where we live support the wellbeing of older adults? The Canadian population is growing older and is reshaping the nation’s economic, social and cultural future. However, the built and social environments of many communities, neighbourhoods and cities have not been designed to help Canadians age well. Bringing together academic research, practitioner reflections and personal narratives from older adults across Canada, this cutting-edge text provides a rare spotlight on the local implications of aging in Canadian cities and communities. It explores employment, housing, transportation, cultural safety, health, planning and more, to provide a wide-ranging and comprehensive discussion of how to build supportive communities for Canadians of all ages.

Some ways to keep your mind healthy as you age are to: • Take care of your heart • Use and challenge your mind • Keep your body active - moving regularly • Maintain good relationships with family and friends - visiting • Eat good healthy foods © I-CAARE 2017 Take care of your body Healthy aging means treating your body well. [...] If you have questions about your prescriptions or need help with alcohol or drug dependency, you need to talk to a health care worker or someone you trust to help. [...] SOME EXAMPLES: Passing on knowledge to younger Across generations generations through storytelling, songs, prayer and ceremony; sharing teachings Memory care and brain health is a about health and balance; teaching the life long journey that involves the language, and more. [...] Older adults have a role in as seniors or Elders groups helps older teaching youth how to age and grow in a Indigenous adults to maintain a sense of healthy way. [...] Many ceremony, church, or time out on the land older adults and caregivers we spoke with - it is up to you to decide what is right for shared that they enjoyed speaking the you and how you want to do it.

"As an Alaska Native (Unangax) raised among my Elders, I was taught Indigenous ways of thinking, the importance of honoring and respecting our Elders and all people and as I moved through the Western education system, I came to realize the knowledge of the land, the water, and the environment taught to me by Elders in my family and community was not in the textbooks, not shared by others, not honored or respected when shared in a group setting"--

Aging of the population is probably one of the most discussed and debated subjects in Canada today.

Learn the ins and outs of health promotion and disease prevention in Canada with Edelman and Kudzma’s Canadian Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span. This all-new, comprehensive text grounds you in the Canadian health objectives for promotion and prevention which aims to improve the health of the entire population and to reduce health inequities among population groups. Among the text’s chapters you’ll find extensive coverage of growth and development throughout the life span — including coverage of the normal aspects, the unique problems, and the health promotion needs that are found in each age and stage of development. Separate chapters discuss each population group — the individual, the family, and the community — and highlight the unique aspects of caring for each of these groups. In all, this comprehensive and culturally relevant text provides all the tools needed to stay up on the latest research and topics in Canadian health promotion.

Dementia is on the rise around the world, and health organizations in Canada, the United States, and New Zealand are increasingly responding to the urgent need – voiced by communities and practitioners – for guidance on how best to address memory loss in Indigenous communities. Indigenous Peoples and Dementia responds to this call by bringing together, for the first time, research on three key areas of concern: prevalence, causes, and public discourse; Indigenous perspectives on care and prevention; and the culturally safe application of research to Elder care. The discussions are organized thematically and are complemented by teaching stories that impart Indigenous knowledge about memory loss and memory care. Presenting strategies for health practice and effective collaborative research informed by Indigenous knowledge and worldviews, this book is a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, students, and educators who seek a better understanding of memory loss and memory care.

Older Indigenous peoples in Canada, including Mi'kmaq in the Atlantic region, face significant health disparities that occur earlier and more often than for non-Indigenous Canadians. These health disparities mask the unique and positive ways in which Elders and older Mi'kmaq can promote wellbeing within their communities in Atlantic Canada, introducing challenges to promoting health across the life course. As more Mi'kmaq reach older age, creating healthy aging policies that aim to promote health is essential. This study explored: 1) What are the current federal, provincial, and First Nations government policies that promote healthy aging among older Mi'kmaq living on-reserve in Atlantic Canada; and 2) a) how do policymakers integrate and reflect upon Mi'kmaq perspectives in the development, implementation, and evaluation process of healthy aging-related policies, and b) how can these policies support healthy aging of older Mi'kmaq living in their communities. A two-phase qualitative descriptive approach was used to answer these questions. First, a systematic search was conducted to locate 11 federal, provincial, and First Nation policies, strategies, frameworks, and action plans related to healthy aging and older Mi'kmaq on organizational and governmental websites. Second, nine interviews were conducted with individuals working in federal, provincial, and First Nations government departments, First Nations Health Organizations, First Nations Health Centres, and members of provincial aging policy development committees across the Atlantic region. Inductive content analysis generated four descriptive themes from the policy documents: a) Transparent Inclusion of Older First Nations During Policy Development, b) Engaging Elders and Older Mi'kmaq, c) Determinants of Health Approach, and d) Programs and Services; and three descriptive themes from the interviews: a) Government Relations and Communication, b) Current Healthy Aging Policies for First Nations, and c) Integrating Older First Nations Healthy Aging-Related Priorities in Health Policies. Findings indicated inconsistencies between First Nations and Canadian government policies related to service provision and programs intended to promote healthy aging among Elders and older Mi'kmaq on-reserve. In addition, priorities related to healthy aging identified in Mi'kmaq organization mandates have not been integrated into federal or provincial healthy aging policies. These findings highlight the urgent need for meaningful collaboration between First Nations and Canadian governments to co-create comprehensive, Indigenous-focused policies to promote healthy aging. It was also emphasized that Elders and older Mi'kmaq living on-reserve need to be meaningfully engaged to understand what each community wants to age well. Critically, a process for inclusive and comprehensive engagement with communities is needed to ensure healthy aging is supported and needs are being addressed.

This paper presents the perspective of the author on housing and Aboriginal elders, based on his own experience and that of his family members. Other topics covered are native elderly in Canadian society, health and social needs of native seniors, First Nations elders as resource persons/educators, and recycling the "elders" in the Inuit social life.