Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Research Question:What makes it easier and what makes it harder for First Nations seniors who use wheelchairs and walkers (with wheels) to attend community and cultural events in their communities? Aims: 1.To learn about how community and cultural experiences have changed since becoming a wheelchair or walker (with wheels) user. 2.To explore what makes it easier or harder for First Nation seniors to participate in their communities and how they view the impact of participation on their health and the health of their communities. 3.To make a best practice guide using the outcomes from the study, so they can use it to increase participation and improve health. Approach/Methodology: The first and second aim of the project will be accomplished by: conducting semi-structured interviews with participants from Six Nation's and Akwesasne. The interviews will last approximately 60 minutes each. The third aim will be accomplished by putting together a document on best practices for each community. •An Interdisciplinary approach will be used in order to fully address this research question because it is a co-production of knowledge from diverse disciplines such as: professors in nursing; members of Health Canada; Chief and Council Members; Elders and other Indigenous researchers from all over Canada. I'm also a Highly Qualified Personnel with AGE-WELL, which gives me access to a wide variety of aging and technology resources and experts. •This study follows First Nations principles of OCAP, meaning that First Nations control the data and collection processes in their communities. •Ethical permission has been received from the University of Ottawa and both the Akwesasne and Six Nations Council. Research agreements are in place with both communities. This project demonstrates scientific excellence because it is the first systematic study on how First Nation Elders who rely on wheeled mobility experience participation in meaningful activities in their communities.