Grant: Project Grant

Background: Our community partner provides supportive subsidized housing with 50 units dedicated to culturally safe places for Indigenous women and their children. Clients are engaged in cultural activities that are largely seated and engage the hands and minds. Culturally-grounded physical movement activities are absent which is required for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) management. The overall purpose of the proposed project is to establish a culturally-grounded pre-diabetes and T2D program to support health practices among urban Indigenous women in supportive housing. Our objectives are to: (1) establish a program focused on pre-diabetes and T2D created by Indigenous women; (2) implement the program; (3) evaluate the impact of the program on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health; (4) increase health literacy on pre-diabetes and T2D; and (5) co-develop a knowledge mobilization strategy with community partners and study participants. Our research approach to address the objectives are: (1) discussions with Indigenous women from the housing unit on program content, duration and resources; create and identify pre-diabetes and T2D health literacy resources; (2) measure physical activity using a questionnaire pre-post program; (3) evaluate the pre-post program impact on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health using a questionnaire, biological indicators, and focus groups or interviews; (4) measure health literacy using a questionnaire and focus groups pre-post program; and (5) meetings to determine the deliverables for a sustainable program. Outcomes: We expect to establish an Indigenous-grounded program to increase movement and improve pre-diabetes and T2D health literacy knowledge in Indigenous women. Core expertise: Our proposal has Indigenous leadership with Benoit and Campaigne. Benoit conducts research to inform services for Indigenous women. Campaigne develops, coordinates and facilitates cultural programming at the housing unit.