1. Following the Path: Indigenous Approaches to Patient-Engaged Research
Cassandra J. Opikokew Wajuntah
Indigenous Research & Engagement Expertise Platform Lead, SCPOR

2. 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 SCPOR
The Indian Solution to the Policy Problem: Developing an Indigenous Policymaking Model to Address First Nations Health and Education Disparities

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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”

6. 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

7. Indigenous Research vs. POR
Indigenous Community-Based Participatory Research
Patient-Oriented 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
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

8. Following the Path…
Indigenous researchers and ally-researchers 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”

9. 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

10. What is SCPOR’s Role in Indigenous Engagement?
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)

11. How Can/Will We Do This? 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 community representatives
Building and fostering respectful research partnerships
SCPOR Oversight Indigenous PFA representative

12. Questions. Comments. Feedback
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Personal beef or a deep, dark secret you need to share? Contact us:
Indigenous Engagement Platform Lead: or (306)
Indigenous Engagement Specialist (Saskatoon): or (306)
Indigenous Engagement Specialist (Regina): or (306)