The report outlines the purpose of the research and methods utilized, presents the summary results of a literature review on evidence including a discussion on use of evidence in First Nations and indigenous substance abuse programs, and explores key informant interview findings particularly in relation to systems, program and community related challenges. [...] The involvement of communities, recognizing a range of indigenous rights and processes in the renewal program, and working with multiple approaches will ensure that evidence is inclusive of a range of views and embedded at all levels of the program in addition it will ensure consistency with Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) guidelines for health research with Aboriginal people. [...] More specifically, the research project focused on the following: • identifying existing evidence-based best practices and strategies for the prevention of substance abuse in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal settings; • identifying gaps and challenges of the NNADAP prevention component; and 8 • proposing various short-term and longer term strategies/actions to strengthen the NNADAP prevention compone [...] The aim of indicated prevention efforts is not necessarily to prevent the initiation of use, nor the use of substances, but to prevent the (fast) development of a dependence, to diminish the frequency, and to prevent “dangerous” substance use (e.g., moderate instead of binge drinking). [...] While some of these communities and providers are in the process of developing best practices and have identified work still to be done, services had a number of working principles in common that aligned with the evidence, such as: • coordination and integration across services; • a strong focus on training and support; • the capacity to gain advice and policy direction from the community; • high