The CanScreen T1D Indigenous-led Project is Looking for New Members!
This project will bring Indigenous Peoples together to talk about screening for the risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children. We want to learn whether this type of screening feels important for your communities. If it does, we will work with you to explore how it can be done and offered in a way that is respectful and supportive.
Opportunities for Travel
You will have opportunities to present the group’s work and visit communities across Canada. The group values getting together in person and attending conferences that support learning about T1D.
Monthly Meetings
We meet regularly on the third Monday of the month at 12 P.M. ET. These meetings give the group a chance to bond and review materials related to T1D, including conversations about whether screening is a priority and the best way to do it. You will be paid as a thank‑you for the time you spend sharing your knowledge.
Resources
Together, we will create and update T1D resources to support Indigenous families affected by the condition.
Interested?
We are looking for Indigenous Peoples, youth and Elders:
- with lived/loved experience of T1D, or
- who want to make a difference in T1D screening.
Email us at canscreen.t1d@sickkids.ca. We cannot wait to hear from you!
Indigenous Health
Indigenous health in Canada is about the well-being of Indigenous peoples, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. It looks at health in a broad way, considering not just physical health but also mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It also recognizes how history, culture, and social factors affect the health of Indigenous people.
Key parts of Indigenous health include:
- Traditional Knowledge and Healing: Indigenous health practices are based on traditions like using herbal medicine, spiritual healing, and ceremonies. These practices emphasize the connection between all parts of life and the importance of living in balance with nature.
- Historical and Social Determinants: The health of Indigenous people is affected by past events, including the impact of colonization, residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and ongoing racism. Social factors like poverty, poor housing, food insecurity (lack of access to enough healthy, affordable food), and limited access to healthcare services also affect their health. These factors also contribute to health disparities, which are differences in healthcare between different groups of people, often due to factors like race, income, or location.
- Cultural Sensitivity and Safety: It is important that healthcare providers, like doctors and nurses, respect and understand Indigenous cultures, traditions, and values. Indigenous people should feel safe and respected when receiving care.
- Access to Healthcare: Many Indigenous communities, especially those in rural areas, face challenges in getting healthcare, like long travel distances and not enough healthcare workers. Overcoming these challenges is necessary to improve health.
- Mental Health and Wellness: Indigenous health also focuses on mental health, helping people heal from trauma caused by history, like residential schools. Programs that support mental health, substance abuse recovery, and healing from trauma are important.
- Self-Determination in Healthcare: Indigenous people believe they should have control over their own healthcare systems. More and more, communities are leading their own healthcare projects, like the CanScreen T1D Indigenous-led research project, to meet their unique needs.
- Indigenous Health Policies and Initiatives: While there have been efforts to improve healthcare for Indigenous people, work is still needed to reduce health gaps and make sure Indigenous health is a priority in healthcare policies.
Indigenous health is a mix of both traditional and modern healthcare. It highlights the need for healthcare that is culturally respectful, easy to access, and led by Indigenous communities themselves. Addressing the historical and social factors that affect health is important for creating fair and better health outcomes for Indigenous people.
Key Considerations In Working With Indigenous Peoples
When working with Indigenous peoples, it’s important to remember the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. These calls focus on healing, justice, and fairness for Indigenous communities and encourage us to address past wrongs, like colonization and residential schools.
Cultural sensitivity is also key. This means being respectful of Indigenous traditions, languages, and values, and understanding the importance of community, family, and connection to the land. Building trust and respect helps create strong, positive relationships with Indigenous communities.
Data sovereignty is another important consideration. It means that Indigenous peoples should have control over their own information, especially in research and healthcare. This protects their knowledge, culture, and history from being misused.
By keeping these points in mind, we can work together in a way that respects Indigenous peoples, supports their well-being, and helps them achieve fairness in society.
CanScreen T1D Indigenous-Led Project: Self-determined Indigenous Research About T1D Screening
Background
Most research with Indigenous communities in Canada has focused on Type 2 diabetes (T2D), but not much is known about Type 1 diabetes (T1D), which is less common in Indigenous families. Because of this, there is not enough research on T1D that respects the values and needs of Indigenous communities. This project will work with over 30 First Nations and urban communities to create a T1D screening program that is culturally safe and meets their needs, while also helping to build research knowledge about T1D in Canada.
Indigenous-Led Approach
Research with Indigenous peoples should be led by Indigenous peoples, making sure it follows the values of fairness and self-control. It is important that research follows rules like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP®) guidelines, which help protect the rights of Indigenous communities. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action also help make sure Indigenous peoples are the ones making decisions in research.
Objectives
The main goal of this project is to make sure that T1D screening research in Canada includes Indigenous peoples in safe and respectful ways. The specific goals of this project are:
- Strengthening relationships between the research group and Indigenous communities already involved in diabetes research through the CIHR-funded Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program.
- Hosting yearly meetings with leaders and youth from First Nations and Métis communities to share ideas, talk about research goals, and figure out what they need for T1D screening.
- Creating clear plans for T1D screening with different Indigenous communities to make sure their thoughts and needs are part of the research process.
- Creating a set of rules (protocol) to protect Indigenous data sovereignty, making sure it follows the OCAP® and CARE-FAIR principles, for the CanScreen T1D team.
Why These Goals Matter
These goals help fill the gap in T1D research and screening for Indigenous communities by focusing on community involvement and cultural safety. By working through the Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program, we can build stronger partnerships and trust.
The yearly meetings with community leaders and youth will give the research team important feedback to make sure T1D screening programs match what the communities really need.
Having plans made with different Indigenous groups helps make sure the research is fair, respectful, and based on the real experiences of Indigenous peoples.
By reaching these goals, this project will create a safe, community-driven T1D screening program that respects Indigenous peoples’ rights and helps them build their own knowledge.