Grant: Project Grant

Indigenous Peoples continue to experience poorer health outcomes and discrimination rooted in colonial institutions such as Indian hospitals, reinforced by underrepresentation in health professions. These inequities undermine trust, restrict access to culturally safe care, and shape health across generations. Healing Histories, Transforming Futures is a five-year, Indigenous-led, arts-based, intergenerational research project designed to strengthen Indigenous youth wellbeing and advance Indigenous-determined health care. Guided by Indigenous governance and partnerships with First Nations, Elders, Survivors, youth, educators, and regional health partners across Vancouver Island, the project merges two Nation-led programs: (1) "Scenes from the Nanaimo Indian Hospital," a research-based theatre production; and (2) Kwakwaka'wakw Health Career Gatherings. The project spans three Vancouver Island Culture Areas: Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Coast Salish. In each territory, three interconnected activities take place. First, a Nation-led governance structure guided by the Kwakwaka'wakw Gukw'dzi (Big House) Framework centres Survivor authority, Elder guidance, youth voice, and Nation-defined priorities. Second, youth-centred projects position secondary students as knowledge holders and co-creators through a two-week intergenerational theatre program, doing arts-based work with Survivors to examine colonial health histories while envisioning Indigenous-determined futures in health care. Third, Nation-led Regional Health Forums bring youth and Survivor knowledge into conversation with Indigenous leaders, health practitioners, educators, and policy makers to advance accountability, confront racism in health care, and strengthen pathways for Indigenous youth into health professions. Together, these initiatives will strengthen youth wellbeing, increase Indigenous representation in health professions, and support community-led models for Indigenous health system change.