Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

The initial phases of Water Journey, an Indigenous metaphor for a wellness-based journey of healing for those at risk for, living with and cured from hepatitis C (HCV) were funded through a CIHR grant. Combining both Western and Indigenous research methodologies to better understand Indigenous people in Canada and HCV, the project has been grounded in ceremony and meaningfully engaged Indigenous Elders and people with lived HCV experience. It included: 1.A scoping review of the literature, which identified the need for more comprehensive data to better elucidate the HCV burden for Indigenous peoples; a best or wise practice prevention and care framework that is integrated, culturally safe, wholistic and addresses underlying health determinants; and community-led implementation science research to better contextualize and scale up effective interventions. 2.Sharing circles, an Indigenous approach similar to focus groups, which identified as major themes: strength, resilience and hope; intersectionality; barriers across the care continuum; health literacy; and personal transformation. Results from these early phases, as well as from ongoing research about Indigenous people and HCV, have been accepted as an oral presentation at the Lowitja Institute International Health and Wellbeing Conference 2016: identity, knowledge, strength.