In Canada, health research rarely acknowledges Indigenous expertise. Centuries of proven medical knowledge has neglected to focus on diseases and deficits—whether that’s in designing and testing or implementing interventions, treatments or preventive measures. Current colonized medical structures are not well-equipped to support Indigenous health and wellness knowledge and wisdom.
The Miyo-pimâtisiwin project is an attempt to seek change by creating a network of Indigenous health knowledge development centres. These centres are grounded in the land and in culture. Land-based Indigenous research methodologies are the network’s critical component. Using a health determinants approach and working with communities of Indigenous people including Elders, Knowledge Holders, youth, researchers and health workers, we explore what makes Indigenous people well, what keeps them well, and how Indigenous wellness can be achieved, re-gained and maintained through practices and interventions grounded in both traditional and Western knowledge.
In this context, Indigenous communities are the primary research leaders, while academic institutions and the health system are the knowledge users. Community leads the researchers, rather than the other way around. Community provides the vision, idea and research strategies that come directly from the community. In the words of an Elder: “Let’s research ourselves back to life.”
Research began in the Northern Village of Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan, in December 2019, and although it was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, visible progress was made. Île-à-la-Crosse’s work has intertwined with food sovereignty. Their Elder-led greenhouse garden project allows produce to be sold while connecting participants with the community and land.
Looking ahead to 2026, an upcoming aspect of the research will involve community mapping, which will connect organizations in the community to find out if there are any gaps which can be addressed with help from the research team.
Sturgeon Lake First Nation (SLFN) is also involved with Miyo-pimâtisiwin. SLFN has been working on preserving cultural expertise and traditional knowledge forms. They will continue this work by developing a community-led archive.
For more information, contact: pewaseskwan@usask.ca