Grant: Op Gr Adv 2S_LGBTQI+ Hea Thr Res - Hea Two-Spir, Ind, Gen. Div. F. Nat, In, Mé

Indigenous 2-Spirited, Indigenous Queer and Transgender (2SIQT) Peoples are at highest risks of violence, extortion, survival sex, and homelessness in urban centres across Canada and face a lack of culturally informed care and service provision for 2SIQT histories, needs, realities, and experiences. In northern Ontario, such as in Thunder Bay, rising homelessness rates has reached a crisis state, an over 200% increase in housing loss, with an estimate of over 40% being Indigenous. 2SIQT realities, experiences, and needs are greatly limited among these existing housing losses, subjecting them to anti-Indigenous racism, physical and verbal violence, as well as misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia in seeking shelter and security. The purpose of the project is to end violence and save lives. In partnership with 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations' Thunder Bay office, this Indigenous community-driven research project that will use an Indigenous culturally and ceremonially land-based, mixed methods approach to address health data gaps in 2SIQT care, and identify solutions for healing programs, interventions, trainings, and policy mobilization. Ceremonial and land-based procedures will ground and centre Indigenous knowledges along the entirety of the project, supporting active community connection and referral to necessary resources and supports. Collaborative Indigenous health researchers, partnered 2SIQT community service providers, national leaders in Indigenous mental health, and 2SIQT trainees come together in this project to protect 2SIQT needs, promote identity and ceremony in care services, and transform systems, training, services, and policies through community-driven, land-based health research.