Partnership, knowledge translation, and substance abuse prevention with a First Nations community.

Background: Having identified substance abuse as an issue of concern in their community, the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation invited University of Alberta researchers to partner on the cultural adaptation, delivery, and evaluation of a school-based drug and alcohol abuse prevention program. Researchers conducted a literature review of available drug and alcohol prevention programs for children and youth, identifying the Life Skills Training (LST) program as a viable model for cultural adaptation.

Objectives: Four program objectives were developed: (1) Review and cultural adaptation of the elementary and junior high LST programs, (2) delivery of the adapted programs, (3) measurement of changes in students' knowledge of the negative effects of drug and alcohol use, attitudes toward drugs and alcohol, drug and alcohol refusal and life skills, and changes in self-esteem/self-concept, and (4) documentation of the community's experience of the project.

"Making a place of respect": lessons learned in carrying out consent protocol with First Nations elders.

Background: This article explores the issue of informed consent by First Nations Elders modifying and implementing a substance abuse prevention program for youth, Nimi Icinohabi, among the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. The Elders who approved and guided the research maintained that informed consent procedures carried out by the Western academic institutions were redundant given adherence to their own culturally based protocol.

Objectives: The objective of this article is to present lessons learned regarding the cultural basis of consent involving First Nations Elders to improve our own and other researchers' ethical practice in this context.

A culturally adapted drug and alcohol abuse prevention program for aboriginal children and youth.

Background: In response to substance abuse within their community, the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation invited the University of Alberta (UofA) to partner in a collaborative effort to establish a school-based substance abuse prevention program.

Objectives: An evidence-based substance abuse prevention program was reviewed and adapted by the community to ensure that it incorporated their cultural beliefs, values, language, and visual images. The adapted program was delivered to students at Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation School and changes in student participants' knowledge, attitudes, refusal skills, and self-beliefs were measured.