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Indigenous Health

This page provides a brief description of the Indigenous social determinants of health and quality of life from the literature and Indigenous communities, with links to further readings and resources.

A Literature Review

Circular graphic with ten spokes each indicating a different domain

The domains emerging from the literature review allow for a more relational approach to the building and use of digital platforms for creators, communities, and single users.

Within these domains lie the lives of Indigenous peoples: where they are hurting, where they are drawing breath and strength from, and where they want their allies to focus on when thinking of their communities and planning for digital platforms of preparedness to help in building their nations.

See Our Publications & Presentations below for further details.


A Literature Review

Quality of life diagram with 7 overlapping circles, demonstrating the interconnectedness of Indigenous wellbeing

There was a clear emphasis on the interconnectedness between domains of Indigenous wellbeing, including: a) Connection to Land, b) Culture and Language, and c) Family, Community & Kin. It is vital to ensure:

  • A culturally appropriate and strengths-based framework that acknowledges unique Indigenous understandings of wellness.
  • The ability for each Nation to depict what is important to their people’s and community’s wellness.

See Our Publications & Presentations below for further details.


Community Perspectives

Circle diagram with six main categories and 15 sub categories

The Indigenous health and wellness domains and indicators have distinct concepts and descriptions relative to colonial SDOH and QOL models (e.g., Healthy People 2030 | health.gov). There are some distinctions across communities in what is perceived as relevant and priority domains and indicators. Indigenous community engagement is therefore crucial in ensuring that the health and wellness domains are relevant to each community.

Attention should be given not only to the health and wellness domains, but also how they are shared and passed down, stewarded, and protected within Indigenous communities.

See Our Publications & Presentations below for further details.


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Publications

  •  Friesen, M., Lounsbury, K., Sasaki, A., Baldwin, R., Foth, P., Rieger, K.L., & Sawatzky, R. (2023). Indigenous quality of life measurement for health and social services: A systematic review protocol following a hermeneutic approach [INPLASY202370082]. International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols, retrieved from Inplasy Protocol 5068 – INPLASY.

  •  Lounsbury, K., Friesen, M., Sasaki, A., Baldwin, R., Foth, P., Rieger, K.L., Sawatzky, R. (2023). Indigenous social determinants of health measurement for health and social services: A systematic review protocol following a hermeneutic approach [INPLASY202370083]. INPLASY. Retrieved Inplasy Protocol 5069 – INPLASY.

Presentations

  •  Lounsbury, K., Friesen, M., Sasaki, A., Stewart, R., Tso, C.S., Baldwin, R., Foth, P.R., Rieger, K.L., & Sawatzky, R. (2023, October 18-21). An Integrated Knowledge Translation Approach to Identify Social Determinants of Health and Quality of Life Domains and Indicators Relevant for Indigenous Communities. Poster presentation at the 30th International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL), Calgary, AB.

  •  Sasaki, A., Lounsbury, K., Friesen, M., Stewart, R., Tso, C.S., Foth, P.R., Baldwin, R., Rieger, K.L., & Sawatzky, R. (2024, March 23-24). Informing an Indigenous digital health ecosystem through integration of social determinants of health and quality of life measures. Oral presentation at the Planetary Health 2024 at Langley, BC.

  •  Sasaki, A., Lounsbury, K., Friesen, M., Stewart, R., Tso, C.S., Foth, P.R., Baldwin, R., Rieger, K.L., & Sawatzky, R. (2024, May 14-16). Identifying social determinants of health and quality of life measures for an Indigenous digital health ecosystem. Oral presentation at the Global Conference on Person-Centred Care at Gothenburg, Sweden.

Recorded Presentations and Interviews