Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

The current research project builds upon the research findings, protocols, and community connections from a community-based parent project on the cancer survivorship experiences of First Nations and Métis peoples. One of the major themes coming out of that project was the limited resources and lack of support for their caregivers. The current project will involve exploring the experiences of caregivers within the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, a reserve of about 8000 people residing just outside the city limits of Montreal, QC. Community-engaged research with Indigenous populations has been found to be effectively facilitated by arts-based research, using visual methods like photography and video. The methodology of digital storytelling, in particular, has been favourably received within Indigenous communities as an extension of their oral traditions of storytelling and a way of preserving local knowledge in the digital age. The purpose of this study will be to explore the culture of caregiving within First Nations communities. In particular, we aim to: 1)Explore the experiences of both informal (e.g., family members, friends) and formal (e.g., health professional) caregivers who support cancer survivors within First Nations communities. 2)Identify caregivers' resources, needs, and potential gaps in their support. 3)Create digital stories of caregivers' experiences as a dissemination tool. This research will contribute to the development of potentially beneficial interventions and establish culturally meaningful ways to communicate and support Indigenous caregivers. The digital stories and summaries of the research project will be co-owned with local health organizations in Kahnawake, as well as disseminated more broadly by online and social media.