Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Participatory video making, whereby community groups plan, develop and create their own films using their cell phones, can empower communities to address their unique wellness priorities, ideas and needs. Cell phone use is increasing across Indigenous communities; this technology enables users to create video content in otherwise low-tech settings and to reach a wide audience through social media (e.g., TikTok, Instagram). Video-making is an engaging and creative medium for storytelling and for sharing ideas and wise practices about type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention within the community, to other communities and to local, regional, and national decision-makers. Our workshop, to be delivered at the 11th National Indigenous Diabetes Conference in Enoch, Alberta, Treaty 6 Territory, will support the delivery of a hands-on, skills building participatory video making activity. Titled "Sharing Stories: Engaging community in T2D prevention though participatory video-making", our activity will offer an opportunity for approximately 20 attendees to gain knowledge and skills in the conceptualization, scripting, production, editing and distribution of video stories through a culturally relevant, hands-on, interactive experience. The workshop will be co-facilitated by the research team and La Boîte Rouge Vif, an Indigenous non-profit organization that focuses on collaborative research and co-creation of film to share Indigenous culture. A local Elder and two youth from Enoch First Nations, will provide support and territorial knowledge about local practices and teachings. Over the course of three sessions (one on the land) workshop participants will learn essential video-making techniques and will be guided through a real filming session during a cultural teaching session on the land (e.g., another session in the conference program). Post-conference, attendees will continue to have access to our team to support their video-making to mobilize their community for T2D prevention.