Panel data provided by Madison's Canadian Lumber Reporter.

B.C. Funding Aboriginal Environmental Health Research

By Elaine Macdonald

UNBC President Charles Jago and Premier Gordon Campbell  are "drummed" into the Lecture Theatre at the University by a Carrier- Sekani drummer.

Premier Gordon Campbell has  announced the Province will invest $2.25 million dollars through the "Leading Edge Endowment Fund" into the new Dr. Donald B. Rix  B.C. Leadership Chair in Aboriginal Environmental Health.  The full amount is $4.5 million with Dr. Donald B Rix , the Rix Family Foundation  donasting another $2illion, while Cantest Ltd. will contribute $225 thousand.

The Premier prefaced his remarks with saying thanks to Dr. Charles Jago "The legacy of Dr. Jago will be with this University for a long long time" said Campbell as he  thanked Jago for his work and development of the University during his time as President of UNBC.

The B.C. Leadership Chair in Aboriginal Environmental Health will initiate a research  program that will link health and environmental data to identify potential health risks in the Aboriginal population.

The research will be headed by Dr. Laurie Chan, a nationally recognized researcher and contributor to northern and Aboriginal research.  Recruited from McGill University, Dr. Chan says while his research is focussed on community health, the work  will encompass the community's entire environment.

UNBC has the highest number of Aboriginal students in the Province and with 77 Aboriginal bands in the region, the selection of UNBC for this research is a perfect match.  The research  says Dr. Jago, will transcend the borders of the Province and be of benefit to all First Nations in Canada.
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