The National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH)
May 2019
As of May 30th, 2019, the National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health (NCCAH) will officially adopt a new name, the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH). This name change was spurred by calls from First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada to update the terminology used to describe Indigenous peoples, and corresponds with similar trends across Canada and internationally, by organizations, businesses, universities and governments. The federal government has embraced the term ‘Indigenous’ in its reorganization and renaming of the departments responsible for matters relating to Indigenous peoples (Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)) as part of its intent to pursue a new relationship with Indigenous peoples. As well, the term aligns with the international community’s understanding of Indigenous peoples, as reflected in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). While ‘Aboriginal’ is an umbrella term which often homogenizes the diversity of Indigenous populations in Canada, the term ‘Indigenous’ is considered is to be more respectful as it acknowledges Indigenous peoples as original inhabitants and recognizes them as distinct and separate Nations.1
The new name will be reflected in all our new publications, along with our website and social media channels. Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Vimeo, YouTube, SoundCloud, and ISSUU.