Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Although it is well known that the healthcare systems in British Columbia, the rest of Canada, and in other countries where Indigenous peoples live, need Indigenous leaders, this has not yet happened. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (who investigated and reported on how Indigenous peoples have been mistreated in Canada over many years), and the Canadian Prime Minister, have stated that this is one of the most important changes that needs to happen in healthcare. Treatments for mental illness and substance use problems that work for Indigenous patients and their families are a group of healthcare services that are urgently needed. Research has shown that for these services to really help Indigenous peoples, they need to respect and fit with Indigenous peoples' culture. In British Columbia, the mainstream health system and the new First Nations Health Authority share the task of developing these services. Healthcare leaders, Indigenous leaders, and people who use healthcare services, need to build strong relationships with each other, and work together to create these services. It is essential that Indigenous peoples have leadership roles in planning and running the research that will guide the development of the services. This proposal aims to bring together a cross section of individuals through the Centre for Health Leadership and Research (CHLR) at Royal Roads University (RRU) to prepare for research into developing mental wellness and substance use services with Indigenous peoples.