Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grants - Institute/Initiative Community Support

The project "Sustaining Wellbeing through Mentorship and Intergenerational Knowledge Exchange" aims to create a space for dialogue and relationship-building among Indigenous Peoples from Turtle Island (North America), Abya Yala (South America), and Aotearoa (New Zealand). In May 2026, alongside the ISBNPA international conference in Cádiz, Spain, an Indigenous-led workshop-symposium will bring together Elders, trainees, and researchers to reflect on how mentorship, intergenerational learning, and cultural transmission sustain holistic wellbeing. Cádiz-a historic port that once connected Europe to the Americas-serves here as a symbolic site of reconciliation and renewal. Rather than a place of colonial departure, it becomes a space to rebuild relationships and restore balance between Peoples and knowledge systems across continents. The initiative builds on existing partnerships among Indigenous researchers and communities from Canada, Colombia, Peru, and New Zealand who have long collaborated through participatory and community-driven research. The workshop will follow Indigenous circle methodologies, emphasizing listening, multilingual translation, and respect for diverse cultural protocols. Together, participants will identify shared research priorities in areas such as wellbeing, cultural safety, and intergenerational mentorship. Two knowledge products will emerge: a participatory short film and a bilingual (English-Spanish) synthesis brief, both co-created with participants to share learnings and inspire future multinational, Indigenous-led research initiatives. Beyond a single event, this project seeks to weave enduring connections between generations, Peoples, and lands, positioning Indigenous knowledge not as a remnant of the past but as a living foundation for collective wellbeing and global health equity.