Aimed at three main constituencies - Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal social scientists, government and Aboriginal policymakers, and Aboriginal communities - the book has multiple purposes. First, it presents findings from recent research, with the goal of advancing research agenda, and stimulating positive social development. Second, it encourages greater links between the social scientific and external research communities and demonstrates the kind of research needed as a foundation for public policy. Finally, it acts as a guide to research methods for Aboriginal communities and organizations, and promotes cooperation between researchers and Aboriginal peoples in an effort to ensure that research decisions serve both groups equally. A vital addition to public policy and Native studies, Aboriginal Conditions will be welcomed by social scientists, policymakers, and academics working in these fields.

On June 29, 2007, the Assenbly of First Nations (AFN) organized a National Day of Action. This one-day event was part of a broader strategy of the AFN, launched in the fall of 2006 to create awareness of First Nations issues; more specifically, it was a call for action against poverty. This book deals with this same issue, not from an advocacy or political viewpoint, but from an empirical and scientific perspective. As we move further into a new century, it is more important than ever to address the poverty, lack of educational attainment, poor health, and other social problems that affect so many of Canada's Aboriginal people. Aboriginal Well-being: Canada's Continuing Challenge can give us a better idea of where we ought to be concentrating our policy energies and resources. The book is divided into three sections. The first looks at ways of measuring well-being, the second examines the Human Development Index (HDI), while the third focuses on the Community Well-being (CWB) Index.