Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, and gender-diverse (IW2SIQGD) peoples continue to experience significant barriers to safe and equitable healthcare due to the ongoing impacts of colonialism, racism, and harmful political decisions that restrict access to culturally grounded and Indigenous gender-affirming services. Despite these challenges, Indigenous communities hold deep knowledge about what safe and meaningful care should look like. This research builds on the Amplify 1.0 study, where IW2SIQGD participants shared powerful visions for healthcare rooted in ancestral knowledge, ceremony, cultural safety, and relationality. I will share an Indigenous storytelling and arts-based method for public health research and the wisdom from a weaving workshop where IW2SIQGD sharing their visions of an Indigenous gender-just health system and care. These include ceremony, ancestral teachings, Two-Spirit inclusion, anti-racist practice, land- and language-based healing, and community and matriarch-led governance. The findings highlight that Indigenous communities have the expertise to design health systems that reflect their values, rights, and lived experiences. The findings offer new and culturally grounded approaches for strengthening health systems, enhancing equity, and supporting Indigenous self-determination. This work provides practical guidance for public health leaders and policymakers seeking to create safer and more just healthcare pathways for Indigenous women and Two-Spirit peoples.