In 2023, after a review of this funding, the SK-NEIHR added funds for Knowledge Translation projects, and changed both funding opportunities to a rolling deadline, so that people could apply anytime. Here are the projects SK-NEIHR has funded since these changes.

$10,000 to Dr. Thilina Bandara, PhD, an assistant professor and faculty member in School of Public Health at the University of Saskatchewan, seeks to analyze the policy architecture that supports First Nations school immunization programs within the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) area, with particular emphasis on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.   Specifically, his study will be exploring how school immunization has been structured to meet unique First Nations community vaccine access and acceptability needs.  HPV is a sexually transmitted viral infection that is responsible for several male and female cancers and non-cancerous diseases, where it is the causative agent in over 90% of cervical cancers in women globally.

$10,000 to Dr. Shadi Beshai, PhD, an associate professor of Psychology at the University of Regina, Dr. Norma Dunning, PhD, assistant professor of Indigenous Health Studies, Dr. Brenda Green, PhD, associate professor of Health, both at the First Nations University of Canada and colleagues to address the issues of lack of availability of culturally safe and accessible mental health information for Indigenous students on University of Regina and First Nations University of Canada campuses.  This Indigenous student focused project will explore how an accessible mental health knowledge program could empower Indigenous students to take action in seeking appropriate care or create their own forms of support.

$10,000 to Dr. Gordon Sarty, P. Eng, PhD, a professor of Psychology and Health Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Stacey Lovo, PhD, assistant professor, School of Rehabilitation at the University of Saskatchewan and a Principal Investigator in the SK-NEIHR, and colleagues are looking for ways where medical technology developed for space is applied to northern Canadian healthcare, following the Canadian Space Agency’s, Health Beyond Initiative.  First, they will engage with remote and northern Indigenous communities to identify real life healthcare needs where specialized compact low field Owl MRIs will be beneficial.  Second, they will meet with teacher and education administrators to create enhanced education and career opportunities for remote First Nation and Métis high school and post-secondary students around the manufacture and business opportunities (entrepreneurship) of Owl MRIs.  This new type of medical imaging technology is cost effective making it feasible to manufacture and maintain these MRIs in small northern communities.

$10,000 to Dr. Lori Bradford, PhD, an associate professor of Engineering and Canada Research Chair Tier II in Incorporating Social and Cultural Sciences into Engineering Design, Dr. Shelly Kirychuk, BScN, MBA, PhD, Director of the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health (CCRAH) and professor in the Department of Medicine, Dr. Wanda Martin, BScN, Ph.D, an associate professor in the College of Nursing, Dr. Charlene Thompson, BScN, Ph.D, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing, all from the University of Saskatchewan, and team members will develop a housing compendium for First Nation and Métis development in Saskatchewan, available in hard-copy and online formats, and designed for three specific roles (Housing managers, Band managers and leadership decision-makers & Industry and representative organizations) in the housing development process.  It will also share successes from the “Building for the Future: Housing and Health Forum” and additional strengths-based findings from numerous community visits across the province.

$10,000 to Mr. Daniel Hern, creator, producer and host of Hard Knox Talks, Mrs. Donna Gilchrist, co-host and moderator of Hard Knox Talks, Dr. Barb Fornssler, PhD, assistant professor director in the School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Robert Henry, PhD, assistant professor, faculty member in Indigenous Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Canada Research Chair Tier II, Indigenous Justice and Wellbeing, and Nominated Principal Investigator of the SK-NEIHR along with their team to produce audio and video episodes in formats that will be available on YouTube, Facebook and all audio podcast platforms of livestreaming shared stories of individuals with lived and living experience of substance use.  It will include interviews, inspiring stories of people in recovery from substance use disorder, information from Canadian academics, substance use researchers, drug policy advocates, front line workers, and other substance use professionals.  Hard Knox Talks collected data knowledge will be translated into a platform that provides the opportunity for many voices to join in the respectful and thoughtful exchange of ideas and information about substance use.

$10,000 to Mark Pollard, Dean, Trades & Industrial (AME shop), Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT)), and Dr. Gordon Sarty, P. Eng, PhD, a professor of Psychology and Health Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan, along with other USask and Saskatchewan Health Authority colleagues. They are partnering to bring quantum technology to postsecondary Indigenous education centres. Employing compact MRI technology developed over 10 years through a Canadian Space Agency - USask collaboration, SIIT teams will build MRI parts and assemble them. The design will be the working prototype for the lunar Gateway space station with the eventual goal of using this same technology in remote and Northern Indigenous communities to address healthcare needs.

$6,808 to Dr. Robert Patrick, PhD, professor and Chair, Regional and Urban Planning Program and faculty member in Geography and Planning, University of Saskatchewan on developing knowledge translation tools of a series of short videos, story boards, photovoice and still photography to illustrate climate change impacts and adaptation in selected communities in rural and remote First Nation communities in north and central Saskatchewan.  These tools will be useful with sharing circles and other community events to help corroborate the survey data back into the involved First Nation communities.  With community permission, these translation tools will be released to inform the broader public of the climate emergency impacts, and adaptation potential to rural and remote First Nation communities