Feeling welcomed: Creating space for Indigenous voices in brain and mental health

The speaker thanks the hosts and begins with a land acknowledgment, expressing gratitude to the lands of the University of Guelph and acknowledging the Indigenous peoples who reside there.

Beyond commonly known issues like residential schools and MMIWG, the speaker highlights less obvious consequences of colonization including endangered Indigenous languages, loss of identity, and the suppression of Indigenous communities by Western academia.

Research often fails to include diverse voices, including Indigenous ones, leading to an inability to understand and meet Indigenous needs. Historically, Indigenous communities have been exploited by researchers who benefit themselves without providing tangible benefits to the communities, often imposing stereotypes and undermining data sovereignty.

The speaker discusses how researchers often view 'Indigenous problems' through a deficit-based lens, perpetuating stereotypes about alcohol consumption and other issues without considering contributing factors like colonization. This approach frames communities negatively and positions Western knowledge as superior, giving Western medicine power to narrate Indigenous health truths.

Dr. Chris Mushkwash's quote emphasizes the underrepresentation of Indigenous people in brain research. The Canadian Brain Research Strategy aims to address this by increasing understanding of Indigenous diversity, embracing Indigenous knowledge through 'two-eyed seeing', and fostering new partnerships with strength-based approaches.

Despite being only 5% of Canada's population, Indigenous peoples are incredibly diverse, comprising over 630 distinct First Nations, 53 Inuit communities, and over 500,000 self-identifying Métis. This diversity is illustrated through various Indigenous art forms and cultural practices.

Indigenous peoples generally hold a holistic view of health and wellness, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Western medicine, often devoid of spirit, can create a disconnect and mistrust, hindering effective treatment for Indigenous individuals whose spirituality is interconnected with their overall well-being.

Two-eyed seeing involves integrating both Western and Indigenous ways of knowing and doing, leveraging the strengths of both for mutual benefit. This requires decolonization, strength-based approaches, learning together, reflection, communication, trust-building, honesty, patience, and valuing different perspectives. Relationships must be authentic and reciprocal, with Indigenous involvement at every stage, and Western researchers willing to take a 'back seat'.

The video highlights a pictograph illustrating how strength-based approaches consider colonization and historic trauma while also examining contributing factors like cultural supports, healthcare access, social networks, housing, and education. This shifts the focus from 'Indigenous problems' to understanding underlying causes and improving community supports, fostering positive change and resilience.

Building individual and community relationships requires time, trust, transparency, patience, investment, and reciprocation. Cultural competence training is often necessary for researchers, and forming strong networks with diverse Indigenous researchers and communities is crucial, extending beyond Canada's borders.

Indigenous data sovereignty is the right of Indigenous peoples to control data created with or about them, ensuring 'nothing about us without us.' This redefines Indigenous relationships with research from participation to meaningful partnership, empowering communities to decide how data is gathered, analyzed, and used. This principle should apply to all marginalized groups.

The speaker emphasizes that Indigenous researchers should not be pressured into only doing Indigenous research. It's crucial to support Indigenous individuals in pursuing diverse fields, bringing their unique perspectives into all disciplines. The focus should be on attracting and retaining Indigenous students in programs where their representation is low, such as STEM.

The speaker concludes by reiterating the importance of cultural competency, transparency, capacity building, dissemination, diversity, strength-based approaches, two-eyed seeing, and network building in research with Indigenous communities. She thanks collaborators, artists, and attendees, emphasizing the goal of shifting the narrative to one of true partnership and respect.