Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than four million Canadians. It places a heavy burden on individuals, families, and the health system. Indigenous Peoples, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, are more likely to develop kidney disease, often at younger ages, and experience more rapid progression to kidney failure. They are less likely to access nearby dialysis services and kidney transplants. These inequities are linked to systemic racism, unequal access to respectful and culturally safe care, higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure, and the intergenerational impacts of colonization. This research will collaborate with Indigenous communities in Ontario to enhance understanding and improve kidney care. Using both health system data and lived experiences, the study will map how Indigenous adults use kidney-related health services, explore barriers and supports to culturally safe care, and highlight gaps where people may not be getting the services they need. Interviews and sharing circles with patients, families, and providers will give perspectives not visible in the data about the care experience. These findings will then be combined with the health system data and discussed with Indigenous partners in a collaborative activity. Community members will help organize and rank ideas to identify the most critical areas to address for improving kidney care. All activities will adhere to Indigenous research principles that prioritize community control over their own information and foster respect, trust, and leadership throughout the research process. The results will directly inform health planning in Ontario, support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action on Indigenous health, and contribute to safer and more inclusive kidney care. In the long term, this work will improve personal health for Indigenous Peoples, strengthen the health system for all Canadians, and build capacity for Indigenous-led research.