Mitewekan ᒥᑌᐍᑲᐣ (Cree with a rough English translation of: “the spirit behind the heartbeat”) guides the Cardiovascular Network of Canada (CANet), the Canadian Heart Function (CHF) Alliance and the Brain-Heart Interconnectome on the contextualization and adaptation needed for culturally safe and responsive heart care and research. It comprises Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Holders, people with lived/living experience of health conditions and Indigenous health leaders from across Canada.
As with other health conditions, Indigenous peoples in Canada (i.e., First Nations, Inuit or Métis) are disproportionately affected by the burden of heart diseases. This is due to social, economic and political inequities, including systemic barriers within the healthcare system. This research collaboration will engage with Indigenous people with lived experience, communities and community organizations in the co-development of culturally responsive innovative approaches to improve the prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of heart conditions.
The research collaboration is being driven by Indigenous ways of knowing and doing, interwoven with Western science, to improve heart health outcomes in Indigenous peoples. The joint undertaking supports the Brain-Heart Interconnectome and CHF Alliance’s goals regarding Indigenous engagement.
To commemorate the start of the project in a good way, we had a ceremonial launch in August 2022 with our team and community leaders from The Key First Nation, Cote First Nation and the Yorkton Tribal Council. All signed a Letter of Intent, signaling our collective intention to work together in a mutually beneficial relationship toward the advancement of the health and wellness of Indigenous peoples in these communities and across Canada. In attendance at the event were Drs. Anthony Tang and Kevin O’Neil (Cardiovascular Network of Canada), Dr. Gerald Pfeffer (Neuroscientist from UCalgary), and Dr. Jean-Lucien Rouleau (Canadian Heart Function Alliance Network). Also, we recently commemorated a budding partnership with Dr. Peter Liu (UOttawa Heart Institute) on the emerging Brain-Heart Interconnectome multi-institution network.
For more information, please contact: mitewekan@usask.ca