Grant: Catalyst Grant: Moving Upstream - Indigenous Health and Wellness

Health for Indigenous Peoples in Canada is holistic in nature, encompassing physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being, closely tied to cultural identity, land, and community. Indigenous youth in Canada face disproportionate health challenges compared to non-Indigenous youth, including high rates of mental health issues, substance use, and suicide. These challenges are exacerbated by systemic racism, colonial policies, and the erosion of Traditional Knowledge. Culture-based programs have demonstrated effectiveness in promoting health and wellbeing among Indigenous youth, yet their implementation remains limited. The purpose of this study is to explore the barriers at policy and systems levels that hinder the widespread adoption and sustainability of culture-based programs within Canada, which ultimately impacts the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth. The project will include an environmental scan of culture-based programs for Indigenous youth in Canada, and semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders, including existing culture-based program organizers, community leaders, and policymakers, to identify structural determinants impacting the implementation of culture-based programs. Data from the interviews and focus groups will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify actionable strategies for overcoming implementation barriers. Knowledge generated will be disseminated through research reports, policy briefs, a Catalyzing Change Gathering, a workshop with knowledge users, and through academic publications and conference presentations. This project will provide actionable insights and recommendations to support the integration of culture-based programs into public health systems, potentially catalyzing future projects on policy development, program implementation, and community-led research for co-developing culture-based health initiatives for Indigenous youth.