Aboriginal people in northern BC live with persistent health service inequities. This research asks:
- What is the current character of the interface between health provision institutions and Aboriginal communities in the rapidly evolving social, cultural and political climate?
- In the diverse landscape of Aboriginal communities, what are the common gaps in health services and programs, and how can they be addressed in a holistic way to renew the health and well-being of Aboriginal people and communities?
Research design heavily incorporating Indigenous methodologies, ways of knowing, and decolonizing methodologies will be used to develop a model for integrated health and a well-being journey mapping integrating both sides of the patient/practitioner interface with specific attention to:
- Socio-cultural determinants of health.
- The specific context of Aboriginal communities in urban, rural and remote northern BC.
- Attention to applied methodologies and Knowledge To Action (KTA), Aboriginal KT (AKT), and integrated Knowledge Translation (iKT) strategies.
This work will:
- Describe the nature of the current paradigm shift in health services and program provision for Aboriginal communities and identify emerging streams of new vision and work to improve their health and wellbeing.
- Identify and explore community-driven mechanisms to renew trust at the community-institutional interface and to expand access to culturally safer programs in Aboriginal communities.