Following the Path:
Indigenous Approaches to
Patient-Engaged Research
Cassandra J. Opikokew Wajuntah
Indigenous Research & Engagement Expertise
Platform Lead, SCPOR
Getting to Know You, Getting to
Know Me
• Settler/Canoe Lake Cree Nation
Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation
• Mother, daughter, wife, sister,
granddaughter of residential
school survivor
• INCA, BAJ, MPA, PhD (Public
Policy)
• Associate Director at IPHRC
• Platform Lead IREE @ SCPOR
• The Indian Solution to the Policy
Problem: Developing an
Indigenous Policymaking Model
to Address First Nations Health
and Education Disparities
Fostering a culturally safe, respectful
environment in the spirit of reconciliation
• Cultural safety moves beyond the concept of cultural
sensitivity to analyzing power imbalances,
institutional discrimination, colonization and
relationships (NAHO 2006)
• Cultural Safety education focuses on:
• teaching students about colonial history and its impact on Indigenous
peoples, rather than on increasing knowledge about Indigenous
customs and beliefs
• self-discovery: “Students need to learn to evaluate what they are
bringing to the table in terms of their own invisible baggage; that is,
attitudes, metaphors, beliefs and values” (Ramsden 1992: 23)
• Watch, listen and learn. Take what you want, leave the
rest
Canada’s Dark Research History
• Historically, research was done ON Indigenous
peoples not WITH or BY Indigenous people (forced
subjects) = mistrust
• Data and information extracted from communities
• Medical experimentation (ex. nutritional and
medical research conducted on residential school
children)
• Result? This is now a period of building trust and
relationships with self-determining Indigenous
communities that we all have a role in
What Do We Mean by Indigenous
Research?
• We must no longer be only subjects – we want to
drive it!
• Research involving Indigenous people and/or
communities
• Research led by Indigenous researchers
• Research led by Indigenous communities
• Research led by researchers using an Indigenous
research methodology
• Research that privileges Indigenous knowledge and
“ways of knowing”
A Note on “Patient”
• Not the preferred term amongst the Indigenous
population – why?
• Implies “downstream” interventions
• Indigenous preferred focus is on upstream
prevention
• Can be perceived as non-empowering
• Community member is often the preferable term
• You choose what term works for you – that’s the
key
Indigenous Research vs. POR
Indigenous Community-Based Participatory
Research
• POR +
• Privileging Indigenous knowledge
and ways of knowing
• Indigenous voices are meaningful
• Respect and adherence to
research frameworks/policies (ex.
OCAP, Tri-Council – Chapter 9,
UNDRIP)
• Community involvement/
ownership of data and analysis vs.
only individual
• Ceremony and cultural grounding
• Trust-building
• Strengths-based approach
Patient-Oriented Research
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Identifying and prioritising
Research design, including
research question
Development of the grant
proposal
Preparation for execution of the
study
Data collection
Analysing and interpreting data
Dissemination
Implementation
Monitoring and evaluation
Following the Path…
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Indigenous researchers and allyresearchers have been doing this
for years – let’s listen and learn
IPHRC’s Acting Out! Research
• Community-driven
• Youth-led
• Strengths-based approach
• Capacity-building
• Knowledge translation
• Improved “patient
outcomes”
What is SCPOR’s Role in Indigenous
Engagement?
SCPOR’s commitment to Indigenous
engagement:
• Must reflect an understanding
and prioritization of the unique
nation-to-nation relationship
between government and
Indigenous peoples
• Recognizes that Indigenous
communities and patients
contend with the ill and far
reaching effects of colonialism,
particularly the impacts to
Indigenous health
What is SCPOR’s Role in Indigenous
Engagement?
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Builds on and acknowledges the
resiliency and self-determination of
Indigenous peoples and our inherent
rights
Acknowledges that there have are
specific calls to action, policy
guidelines and legislation put in place
to guide this unique relationship
between governments, health systems,
etc. and Indigenous peoples (ex.
UNDRIP, TRC Calls to Action, RCAP, PM
mandate letters)
How Can/Will We Do This?
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You’re the experts – tell us!
Indigenous Research & Engagement Expertise Platform
• Builds reciprocal relationships; creates meaningful
space for Indigenous voices; and supports SCPOR’s
commitment to respectful collaboration with
Indigenous communities, crosscutting all SCPOR
platforms
Indigenous Advisory Circle – comprised of 12-14
community representatives
Building and fostering respectful research partnerships
SCPOR Oversight Indigenous PFA representative
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Personal beef or a
deep, dark secret you need to share? Contact us:
Indigenous Engagement Platform Lead:
[email protected] or (306) 537-2043
Indigenous Engagement Specialist (Saskatoon):
[email protected] or (306) 966-1676
Indigenous Engagement Specialist (Regina):
[email protected] or (306) 585-4876