Celebrating First Nations and Metis Research Partnerships
Tuesday March 13, 09:30 a.m. – 3:45 pm,
Moot Court B, Robson Hall,
University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus.
Facilitators Monica Woods, research quality assurance, and Karen Busby, Centre for Human
Rights Research
09:30 – 09:40 am Opening by an Elder followed by general introductions by CHRR manager
Helen Fallding
09:40 - 10:00 am Opening Presentation by PRE
Laura-Lee Balkwill from the Panel on Research Ethics will highlight key changes to the new TriCouncil guidelines (TCPS2) on research involving First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples.
10:00 – 10:45 am
Lyna Hart, Southeast Resource Development Council, and Shirley Cranford, Pinaymootang First
Nation, will share information on the Manitoba First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health
Survey.
10:45 – 11:30 am
Corinne Isaak and a community representative will present on the Swampy Cree Suicide
Prevention Project.
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Dr. Julianne Sanguins will discuss the Manitoba Metis Federation process for establishing
research through Knowledge Networks.
12:15 - 1:00 pm
Lunch/networking.
1:00– 1:45 pm
Shannon Cormier, Roberta Stout and Sheryl Peters on Intergenerational Effects on First Nations
Women whose Mothers are Residential School Survivors.
1:45– 2:30 pm
Edwin Jebb from Opaskwayak Cree Nation and Kathy Avery Kinew from the Assembly of
Manitoba Chiefs will share information about a research project on Language and Wellbeing.
2:30 – 2:45 pm
Afternoon break/networking
2:45 – 3:45 pm
Closing session led by Dr. Brenda Elias
Closing prayer by Elder
Research Projects
Manitoba First Nations Regional Health Survey (2003)
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs negotiated with individual First Nations to complete a
province-wide social determinants survey of children, youth and adults. It was considered
“unique in the world” in an independent evaluation by Harvard University.
Swampy Cree Suicide Prevention Team:
A University-First Nations Community Partnership
The Swampy Cree Suicide Prevention Team is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research and led by Drs. Jitender Sareen, Brenda Elias (University of Manitoba, Departments of
Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences) and Mr. Garry Munro (Cree Nation Tribal Health).
The project is an equal partnership between First Nations and researchers with goals to
understand the similarities and unique differences around suicide for First Nations people,
consider jurisdictional issues, implement evidence-based interventions, build capacity in
communities and develop a training environment.
Intergenerational Effects on First Nations Women Whose Mothers are Residential School
Survivors
With funding from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Ka Ni Kanichihk's Moon Voices:
Aboriginal Women Reclaiming Our Power program and Prairie Women’s Health Centre of
Excellence teamed up to bring together Aboriginal women who are residential school survivors
or adult children of survivors to create digital stories of their experiences. These are 3-5 minute
self-created video stories, using family photos, art and other still images, music, poetry and
voice. The project culminated in a learning circle about intergenerational reconciliation and a
film screening at the weekend-long conference/celebration of the Moon Voices program. This
talk will highlight some of the important aspects of partnership in an arts-based project such as
this, for the women who participated and for participating organizations.
Biographies
Laura-Lee Balkwill is a policy analyst for the Secretariat on Responsible
Conduct of Research, based in Ottawa. Her research has included developing
the Cue Redundancy Model as a theoretical framework explaining how
people of one culture can recognize the intended emotion in music of another
culture by attending to universal acoustic cues.
Registered nurse Lyna Hart is a University of Manitoba graduate who works in
tribal home and community care for the Southeast Resource Development
Council. She is active on many committees, including the Manitoba First Nation
diabetes committee, the food security reference group, the Assembly of
Manitoba Chiefs health information research governance committee, the
regional telehealth partnership, and the eHealth advisory partnership. She is also is a helper and
supporter in sundance lodges.
Corinne Isaak is a research associate and co-investigator with the Mood
and Anxiety Disorders Research Group in the department of psychiatry,
Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba.
She co-ordinates several research projects in the areas of Aboriginal suicide
and mental health and homelessness. In conjunction with the Swampy Cree
Suicide Prevention Project, she led a group of research staff in conducting
more than 130 qualitative interviews with members of the eight Swampy
Cree First Nations communities. She also played a key role in developing a
randomized controlled pilot study to test two suicide prevention/intervention
methods.
Dr. Julianne Sanguins has a bachelor of nursing degree from the University of Toronto, a
master’s degree from the University of Portland, and a PhD in nursing from the University of
Calgary. Her 2006 dissertation was a focused ethnography exploring the experiences of
individuals living with diabetes and cardiovascular disease in a First Nations community in
northern Manitoba. She is employed as a research associate with the University of Manitoba and
as research program manager with the Manitoba Metis Federation. Sanguins helped build a Metis
health knowledge development unit in the Health & Wellness Department at the Manitoba Metis
Federation. The department has a variety of community based participatory research projects and
unique methods of engaging with members and regional health authorities to examine health
services for Metis at the local level.
Roberta Stout is a researcher at Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence and
a member of the Kehewin First Nation. She holds an MA in international relations
from Simon Fraser University and has studied Cree at Blue Quills College.
Roberta has held various positions in Aboriginal and community organizations
and is the author of several reports on Aboriginal women's health and well-being.
Sheryl Peters is a researcher at Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from University of Calgary and an
MA in sociology from Carleton University. Sheryl advocates using Indigenous
methodologies, stories and visual media in community partnerships, research
and social advocacy.
Shannon Cormier is the co-ordinator of the Moon Voices: Aboriginal
Women Reclaiming our Power project at Ka Ni Kanichihk. With degrees in
outdoor recreation and social work, Shannon is currently working towards
her master’s degree in peace and conflict studies at the University of
Manitoba. Her most valuable educational learning has been working with
Aboriginal organizations across Canada over the last 17 years.
Edwin Jebb was installed as chancellor of University College of the North last
year. He is a champion of community initiatives, especially in the area of
expanding access to education for First Nations peoples. Jebb was an
instrumental member of the implementation team that created UCN. He served
for many years as a school trustee, teacher, councillor and education director at
Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
Jebb graduated from the University of Manitoba with a BA in 1973.
Dr. Kathi Avery Kinew is manager of research and social development for the Assembly of
Manitoba Chiefs. She has spent her entire professional career working with First Nations in
health, education, economic development and historical treaty research, and is the AMC’s main
liaison with universities and First Nations on research.
Dr. Brenda Elias, a population health researcher, is an assistant professor in
community health sciences at the University of Manitoba and a research
affiliate at the Manitoba First Nations Centre for Aboriginal Health
Research. She has extensive experience working with large population
health databases and in developing mixed-methods studies (qualitative and
quantitative) to investigate health status and health services issues in First
Nations communities.