A new Indigenous-led research partnership with Alberta’s two largest universities aims to improve health outcomes for children, youth and families in Treaty First Nations across the province.
The collaboration was announced July 17 with the signing of a memorandum of relational understanding between the (FNHC), the 51ÁÔÆæ and the University of Calgary at the Bison Lodge in Edmonton.
“This is about building trust and taking action,” said Randy Littlechild, board chair of FNHC, which represents 11 Treaty First Nations across Alberta. “Through this partnership, we’re combining the lived experience and leadership of Treaty First Nations communities with the academic strengths of Canada’s top universities to create meaningful, measurable improvements in our children, youth and families’ health and well-being.”
The agreement sets out a framework for joint research, knowledge sharing and innovation, with an emphasis on upholding Treaty First Nations data sovereignty, respecting community knowledge and cultivating strengths-based research relationships.
“This partnership is a vital step toward reconciliation in health research,” said Brenda Hemmelgarn, dean and vice-provost of the U of A’s College of Health Sciences. “It exemplifies what’s possible when academic institutions listen, learn and work alongside Indigenous partners.”
The agreement will serve as a roadmap for collaborations on community-led health research to address priorities identified by Treaty First Nations and build capacity for Indigenous students, researchers and health workers. It will also guide efforts to integrate technology to enhance data, service delivery and access, and engage in policy to influence health systems and advance equity.
“We are committed to a model of research that is community-driven and accountable,” said Sandra Davidson, provost and vice-president (academic) at the U of C. “In this model, universities play an important role in supporting and amplifying Indigenous sovereignty in knowledge creation and application.”