Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Indigenous peoples in Canada are currently faced with chronic disease burdens such as type 2 diabetes while being disadvantaged by a healthcare system that does not successfully address health inequalities. The objective of my proposed research is to explore how the act of storytelling and the understanding of health narratives are vital components to creating holistic and culturally competent healthcare in Indigenous communities. This research aims to represent a collection of health narratives to both informal and formal caregivers of Indigenous patients in order to facilitate a more holistic healthcare model that addresses the importance of spiritual and psychological wellbeing when facing chronic disease management. This research will be qualitative in nature, and will include the qualitative analysis of an existing database concerning Indigenous experiences with diabetes and chronic disease. This research will also include relationship building at the community level, including the involvement of a community advisory group at all stages. Stories are powerful catalysts for one's wellbeing, and help people find meaning and logic to their suffering. Thus, this research will help provide more culturally safe healthcare and decolonize the relationship between patient and caregiver in Indigenous communities. This research will be presented as an academic thesis, as well as a series of community based articles that can be used to inform caregivers.