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

Indigenous youth in Saskatchewan face disproportionately high rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections. Métis youth, in particular, experience gaps in access to sexual health education that is culturally relevant and strengths-based. These inequities go beyond individual health concerns, reflecting the ongoing impacts of colonization, stigma, discrimination, and systemic exclusion. My research addresses these gaps by centering Métis voices and experiences in sexual health education. This project involves three studies. The first engages Métis community members to identify both the gaps and strengths of current sexual health education, documenting cultural teachings, protective factors, and community knowledge that support youth wellness. The second works with Métis teachers to co-create digital stories about their classroom experiences with culturally relevant resources, highlighting both challenges and successes. The third critically analyzes Saskatchewan's Parents' Bill of Rights, which restricts aspects of sexual health education and gender identity supports in schools, to assess its impact on Métis and 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth. The project is guided by Indigenous approaches, including Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing), Visiting (building trust through time spent together), and the Seventh Generation Principle (considering impacts on future generations), woven within community-based participatory research. Ethical commitments are rooted in data sovereignty and informed by OCAP® and CARE, ensuring that benefits return to the community. Findings will be shared in ways co-developed with Métis partners to ensure they are meaningful and practical. The anticipated impact is to generate knowledge that supports culturally safe, inclusive resources and evidence to inform both policy and practice, helping ensure Métis youth can access sexual health education that affirms their identities, strengthens community wellness, and advances health equity.