Grant: Operating Grant: CCS/CIHR Action Grants

Need for project Increasing rates of cancer among First Nations (FN) people in Ontario warrant health-promoting strategies to mitigate their cancer risk. When tailored to a community’s culture and resources, wellness programs can increase community capacity to prevent chronic disease. Evidence for culturally relevant physical activity (PA) and wellness programs in FN communities is limited, but emerging research indicates positive effects on communities’ wellbeing and physical health. Goal of project In order to address high rates of cancer and other chronic disease in Sandy Lake First Nations (SLFN), we will work collaboratively to design and implement a culturally relevant PA and wellness program in their community. This program will be tailored specifically for those individuals in the community who are living with cancer as well as their supports including family, friends and caregivers. Project description Working with our SLFN partners we will: 1)Use community-based participatory methods to develop a PA and wellness program suited to the unique needs of the community; 2)Evaluate any preliminary changes in PA and other communityidentified, culturally-relevant wellness indices; and 3)Use sharing circles to a) explicate the experiences of individuals who were involved with the program, and b) inform the researchers on program best practices, potential improvements, and potential sustainability. Future impact These findings will identify barriers and facilitators to PA and wellness for SLFN and potentially other FN communities. To ensure our program is successful, we will use participatory action and a train-the-trainer method for program sustainability and transferability to neighbouring communities. Additionally, this work aligns with the strategic priorities set out in the First Nation, Inuit, Metis and urban Indigenous Cancer Strategy (2019-2023). These findings could support SLFN in using health data for policy and program development (Priority #2) and develop evidence to reduce the burden of cancer and other chronic diseases (Priority #3).