Granted! Health Research – CIHR 2023 Project Grants

The Canadian government, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Project Grant, has awarded more than $3.5 million to University of Regina health researchers. This support will help our scholars to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous children who have disabilities, people living with bipolar disorder, and those experiencing infertility.

Recognizing resilience

First Nations children and youth in Canada report notably higher rates of disability – 30 per cent compared to four per cent of non-First Nations children. Even more distressing is that First Nations children in the care of child welfare agencies have even higher rates of disabilities, with some estimates as high as 40 per cent.

Dr. Elise Matthews, an associate professor in the Faculty of Nursing and a registered nurse, is building upon a project she’s been leading for three years working with the families of First Nations children with disabilities who face challenges accessing health services and supports in Saskatchewan.

This grant, worth $2,306,475, will allow her to partner with Indigenous children and families in five Cree, Dakota, and Lakota First Nations.

All First Nations children in Canada have the right to timely access to culturally-appropriate health services.

Moreover, children with disabilities tend to access health and mental-health services at significantly higher rates than other children because they often have high rates of co-occurring conditions (e.g., developmental + psychiatric + acute and chronic medical conditions), and high rates of psychological dysfunction and distress.

The goal of Matthews’ project, called Recognizing Resilience and Understanding Needs (RRUN): Promoting the Health of Children and Youth with Disabilities in First Nations Communities in Saskatchewan, is to ensure this happens by understanding how community-based cultural supports can improve health and wellness for Indigenous children with disabilities This initiative also recognizes the pressing need to increase access to services and improve prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of disabilities among First Nations children and youth.

Cultural and community practices and supports are important sources of health, well-being and resilience for First Nations children, youth and families. This community-led project will draw upon this by gathering knowledge about the experiences of First Nations children and their families, and Indigenous practices and teachings about disability, health, and healing. The research team will identify individual and community assets, needs, and priorities for culturally-informed supports. The team will use Indigenous and Western methods, including conversations, sharing circles, community gatherings, tipi teachings, ceremonies, arts, music, and land-based activities.

Community members, leaders, and Elders, along with Indigenous and non- Indigenous scholars and health professionals will work together to share, preserve, and generate knowledge, and create culturally-informed and responsive disability resources and programs for children and families, to support and enhance their well-being and quality of life.