Research DE-Colonized: Ethical, Indigenous-Led Health and Wellness Research in Canada

It’s the start of Season 2! This episode, Laura sits down with Metis scholar Dr. Gabrielle Legault to engage in conversations around what “community-led” or “X-led” research means in real-time applications. Gabrielle discusses her fascinating youth-led work, strategies for effective youth recruitment and more importantly, engagement, reciprocal and respectful relationships, and gives us a snapshot of the amazing work the Urban Indigenous Wellbeing Collective is doing throughout the southern interior.  

For more on the Urban Indigenous Wellbeing Collective, check out their website at: https://www.urbanindigenouswellbeing.com/

In this long (but, thrilling!) episode, Laura sits down for a heartfelt, honest conversation with Tsimshian scholar Spencer Greening/La’goot to discuss his journey through academe.  Covering a range of exciting topics, Spencer shares his experiences and thoughts on:

·      Growing up out of his community and reconnecting to his roots

·      Doing research with and for his community

·      When and where hereditary and colonial governance structures interface, as witnessed in his home community

·      Rebuilding and re-imaging our relationship to the land as a mechanism to combat environmental degradation and negative impacts of climate change

·      Navigating the complexities of cultural and community priorities, versus academic and institutional expectations and commitments

·      Perspectives on the A-word (anthropology) and Indigenous communities, combatting colonial legacies. 

In this episode, Laura sits down with Marion Erickson as they chat about her experiences conducting participatory action research to revitalize traditional Dakelh perinatal practices. Marion is the Research Manager at the Health Arts Research Centre at UNBC and a Masters of Education Candidate at Thompson Rivers University. 

In this episode, Laura sits down with the amazing Harley Eagle to talk all things cultural safety. This episode is highly recommended as a resource for those offering cultural humility/safety training and for those hoping to start their own journey on how to create and contribute to safer spaces for Indigenous peoples. 

This week, Laura sits down with fellow Indigenous Health Research Facilitator, Jimena Chalchi for a spicy conversation on traditional medicine, women’s medicine, and alternative gynaecology specific to Central & South America. Jimena also discusses her personal journey in health leadership and actions for policy change.

This week, Laura sits down with Metis scholar Dr. Rheanna Robinson as the first official episode of our Inspiring Indigenous Scholars mini-series. In this episode, Dr. Robinson discusses her experiences in academe as an Indigenous woman living with a disability, her research training and background, and where she’s going with her new-found interest in Indigenous disability justice and equity in healthcare.

Show Notes: Dr. Robinson would like re-emphasize how welcoming UNBC was, and continues to be, for Indigenous students, staff, and faculty.

In this episode, we breakdown the basics of the who, what and why of the BC NEIHR and what type of content we're hoping to bring to our viewers.