COVID-19: Indigenous Health Research

• Featured research
• Indigenous health research centres
  • Research, Policy and Information
  • Culturally safe resources
• Funding opportunities

Featured research

• Now you’re speaking my language! COVID-19 risk communications for First Nations people by First Nations people
  Drs. McLachlan, Ballard, and Neckoway have developed a multi-centred research project, Kitatipithitamak mithwayawin, which brings together First Nation and allied scholars, community leaders and Elders, with health agencies and Indigenous political organizations to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in a strategic and culturally appropriate way.
• Kishaadigeh: Indigenous Self Determination through research for our future generations
  Through Kishaadigeh – the Manitoba Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR), Drs. Cidro, Copenace, and Roulette are working closely with partner organizations such as the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM), the Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres (MAC), the Manitoba Inuit Association (MIA), the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg (AHWC), and Aboriginal Youth Opportunities (AYO) to help increase research capacity and ensure that Indigenous partners are leading the research process in areas such as COVID-19.
• The importance of space, place, and protecting Elders: Indigenous communities’ responses to COVID-19
  As an expert on disaster risk reduction for Indigenous communities, Dr. Simon Lambert, the Scientific Director of the CIHR-funded National Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR) Coordinating Centre located at the University of Saskatchewan, has a unique perspective on societal responses to COVID-19. Community strength, resilience, and support remain central to Indigenous responses to these overlapping and ongoing disasters, and these values have formed the core of Indigenous communities' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• COVID-19 and Indigenous Health: Innovations within Community and Primary Health Care [ PDF (1.12 MB) - external link ]
  Dr. Crowshoe says the Indigenous Primary Health Care and Policy Research Network in Alberta was designed in the spirit of generating and sharing innovative knowledge and moving that knowledge into action with community more directly. For example, in the current context of COVID-19, the network is positioned to support primary health care and community stakeholders in accessing critical knowledge for defining best approaches.
• COVID-19 Immunity Task Force: Indigenous Advisory Circle
  Drs. Bourassa and Reading will lead the Indigenous Advisory Circle that will ensure Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies with appropriate expertise and knowledge can provide timely advice to the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force.

Indigenous Health Research Centres

Research, Policy and Information

• First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) - New FNIGC paper supports coronavirus preparedness in First Nations communities [ PDF (1.53 MB) - external link ]
  The First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) has published a special paper that is intended to support coronavirus emergency preparedness efforts in First Nations reserve and Northern communities.
• Yellowhead Institute – COVID-19 & Indigenous communities information and resources
  This page contains Policy Briefs, infographics, podcasts, videos and toolkits related to Indigenous communities and COVID-19.
• The Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR) Centres may have a focus on the COVID-19 response in their respective research projects.
• National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH) – Updates on COVID-19
  NCCIH provides COVID-19 updates related to official public health guidelines and any information specific to First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and communities.

Culturally Safe Resources

• Morning Star Lodge – Morning Star Lodge COVID-19 fact sheet & the protecting our home fires strategy
  The “Protecting Our Home Fires” strategy includes short culturally safe informational YouTube videos, a “COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Indigenous Communities” and a “Protecting Our Home Fires” Information Sheet. Fact sheets are available in English, French, Cree, Nakota, Dene, Michif, Saulteaux and Portuguese.
• Living Well House – COVID-19 Resources
  Well Living House is committed to providing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples with accurate and Indigenous-specific information about COVID-19.
• Hotıì ts’eeda – COVID-19 resources for NWT
  Hotıì ts’eeda has taken the initiative to develop COVID-19 resource materials that present federal and territorial government advice on pandemic safety measures through an Indigenous lens and with cultural safety in mind.
• Kahkakiw the Raven 
  Samson Hunter of Nsichiwayasihk Cree Nation created Kahkakiw, which means raven in Cree, a puppet that flies around Northern Manitoba, learning with community members about the Coronavirus. Kahkakiw speaks in Cree, English and Dene, as he speaks about the coronavirus pandemic providing information from an Indigenous perspective.

Funding opportunities

• View CIHR COVID-19: Indigenous COVID-19 Rapid Research Funding Opportunity.
• View CIHR COVID-19: Pre-announcement: Indigenous Peoples and COVID-19 Knowledge Synthesis, Evaluation and Assessment Grants Rapid Research Funding Opportunity.
• View CIHR COVID-19: Indigenous Health Research decisions.
• View all CIHR COVID19 current and archived funding opportunities and apply for funding.

Date modified:

2020-10-29