Indigenous Health

The Firelight Group approaches Indigenous health and wellness research, analysis and evaluation from a holistic perspective, accounting for the unique and specific Indigenous social determinants that create the conditions of health and wellbeing. It is important for our team to meet communities where they are, and use a strengths-based approach to identify wisdom, lessons, and solutions from within the Nation itself.

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What We Do

Our work ranges from knowledge translation, environmental scans, assessments, evaluations, planning, policy development and analysis, report writing, and Indigenous knowledge studies of health and wellness. Our work includes developing innovative and culturally-relevant research methods with a focus on ensuring trauma informed practice.

Experience

Our team includes social scientists with decades of experience working alongside Indigenous Nations and organizations. We are responsive and adaptive in our research process in a way that is respectful of the knowledge, needs, timelines, and desired outcomes of the Nations and organizations we work with. Our Health Team has worked extensively with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in both urban and rural, off/on-reserve settings, from coast to coast to coast. We also understand the political, legal, and jurisdictional nuances which form the context of Indigenous health and wellness. Some of our areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, mental wellness and substance use, food security, birth and maternal health, early learning and child care, public health, child welfare, gender-based violence and GBA+, cultural safety, anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare, strategic policy and program design, and organizational governance and planning.

Training

We provide training on health and wellness topics for Indigenous Nations and organizations, including helping to establish mechanisms for identifying, assessing, monitoring, and managing the issues that impact community wellbeing. Some examples of this include developing toolkits and guide books, delivering asset mapping and data collection training, and undertaking evaluations which measure Indigenous indicators and provide strengths-based recommendations.

Contact

Kassandra Woods - Indigenous Health Program Manager

MA Indigenous Governance

Vancouver Office

Email: kass.woods@firelight.ca Phone: (778) 587-1727

"I have been taught by my Elders that there is a direct connection between the health of our bodies and the health of the environment, and that we must approach everything fully understanding and respecting that connection. My work in growing the Firelight Indigenous Health research team is to recognize this balance, and to contribute to the revitalisation and restoration of Indigenous perspectives of health and wellness in Nations across Canada. It is a privilege to do this work. Mahsi cho!"

Dr. Rachel Olson

Indigenous Health Team Lead

Example Projects

Born into my Grandmothers Hands: Honouring First Nations’ Birth Knowledge and Practice in Northern Yukon

Rachel Olson, PhD; Charlotte Moores; and Kathleen Cranfield, RM.

Yukon First Nations have a long history of birthing on the land with Indigenous midwives who held the birth knowledge necessary to safely deliver the next generations. Born into my Grandmother’s hands: Honouring First Nations’ birth knowledge and practice in North Yukon is a collection of stories and
knowledge that set out to explore the history of childbearing in the Yukon.

The main areas of focus in this book are stories of childbirth on the land; the history of traditional Indigenous midwifery and birthing practices; changes in maternity care, including relocation for childbirth; traditional parenting practices; and community values in relation to pregnancy and childbirth process.

Download eBook

Research and Data Collection for the National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy

The National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy (NISPS) is a tool in assisting communities, policymakers and governments to work together to address the full breadth and complexity of both risk and protective factors known to help reduce suicide in our communities.

On the third anniversary of the release of NISPS, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami announced a research and data collection project (conducted by Firelight) and the launch of a website.

The report presents findings from an environmental scan that was undertaken to support NISPS objectives. The scan involved a review of both grey and academic literature, and a series of key informant interviews with individuals who have experience working on suicide prevention and related initiatives across Inuit Nunangat.