Browsing by Author "Crowshoe, Lynden (Lindsay)"

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    Moving the Agenda Forward Together: Innovating Indigenous Primary Care in Alberta, Strategic Event Report 2016
    (2016) Henderson, Rita Isabel; Crowshoe, Lynden (Lindsay); Montesanti, Stephanie; Leduc, Charles
    Practitioners, policy-makers, and planners in Alberta note that quality primary care for Indigenous people is undermined by significant structural gaps and deficiencies. In spite of some recent innovations, Alberta seems to lag behind similar jurisdictions, such as Ontario and British Columbia, in mobilizing structures to improve primary care delivery that is culturally safe, acceptable and equitable for Indigenous people. In January 2016, the University of Calgary’s Department of Family Medicine in the Cumming School of Medicine convened Indigenous community members and leaders, as well as provincial health system leaders, primary care practitioners and researchers near Calgary, Alberta to share and explore these barriers. The aim was to optimize the potential for creative change stirred in the province following provincial and federal elections in 2015 that shifted policy landscapes. This report highlights innovations shared from other jurisdictions in Canada, and the opportunities that these innovations present to the Alberta context. The event convened 65 Alberta-based stakeholders, with guest presenters from across Canada, from the: Vancouver Native Health Society (VNHS); Tui’kn Partnership in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; and Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB), Quebec. In small groups, presenters provided overviews of innovations in primary care developed by their organizations, including big picture strategies, and barriers/facilitators to innovation. Small group participants then reflected and explored how such innovations might make sense or be translated into Alberta’s diverse Indigenous contexts. Guest speakers and facilitators from Alberta Health Services (AHS), Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Siksika Health Services, and the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC) helped to integrate knowledge and experiences shared. The models presented were broadly grouped into urban, reserve, and system-level innovations. A physician lead and Elder from the VNHS presented their agency’s VIP Elder program that offers spiritual and emotional support to interested clientele; the health director from Eskasoni First Nation’s health centre shared the story of forging the Tui’kn Partnership with neighbouring communities for ownership and control of health data for improved care; and a lead physician gave an overview of the CBHSSJB’s life-cycle approach structuring all aspects of care.
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    Spread of Makoyoh’sokoi (Wolf Trail): a community led, physical activity-based, holistic wellness program for Indigenous women in Canada
    (2023-08-12) Frehlich, Levi; Amson, Ashley; Doyle-Baker, Patricia; Black, Tia; Boustead, Dawn; Cameron, Erin; Crowshoe, Lynden (Lindsay); McBrien, Kerry; Ji, Yunqi (Jacob); McGuire, Ashlee; Oliver, Alicia; Tuttauk, Loretta; Zhang, Jessica; Checholik, Carly; Wicklum, Sonja
    Abstract Globally, Indigenous populations have been impacted by colonization. Populations who have endured colonization are at higher risk of developing chronic diseases. Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission emphasizes reducing barriers to participation in physical activity and recommends the creation of culturally relevant and supportive policies and programing. Physical activity is a cornerstone in health promotion and public health to combat chronic diseases; however, in Canada, Indigenous developed physical activity programing is sparse, and those targeting women are non-existent in some regions. Makoyoh'sokoi (The Wolf Trail Program) is an 18-week long, holistic wellness program that was created by and for Indigenous women. Makoyoh'sokoi was developed by communities following extensive consultation and cultural oversight. Makoyoh'sokoi’s core program consists of 12 weeks of weekly physical activity programing and health education, followed by another 6 weeks of weekly health education. Notably, communities have control over the program to modify based on individual needs and challenges. Programs commence and conclude with a ceremony with Elders giving a blessing and opening each other to connection. The goals of Makoyoh'sokoi are to empower women, improve health outcomes, and to implement a sustainable program by training a network of community members in their respective communities to facilitate delivery.
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    The Role of Sport in Promoting Wellness Among Indigenous Youth: A Qualitative Study for Policy and Practice
    (2023-09-25) Mortimore, Emma; Henderson, Rita; Crowshoe, Lynden (Lindsay); Roach, Pamela; Murry, Adam
    This work builds on a multi-year community outreach platform led by the Indigenous, Local and Global Health Office at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, to investigate how sport may be supportive of wellness in Indigenous youth. It builds on literature that has shown the promise of sport as a population-level approach for promoting wellness among youth. For this qualitative study, we interviewed eight Indigenous individuals involved in sport, either in their youth or in a leadership capacity as an adult, asking: how do sports support Indigenous youth wellness? Two rounds of iterative thematic analysis were conducted, first investigating how participants described wellness, then assessing how sport acted to promote their concepts of wellness. Participants described the concept of wellness through four core components: i) belonging to something greater than yourself, ii) developing identity, iii) overcoming adversity, and iv) belonging and contributing to a community of support. In investigating how sport supports wellness, one major theme emerged that crosscut all others: connectedness. This manifested at the personal, interpersonal, and wider social levels in the lives of participants. This work culminates in considering how existing frameworks for youth wellbeing can be expanded to better include Indigenous perspectives. Findings are oriented to policy action in the Cumming School of Medicine, as well as aim to influence change of practice for those working with Indigenous youth in sport more broadly.
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    Understanding Depression Among Pregnant Aboriginal Women
    (2017) Roy, Amrita; Thurston, Wilfreda Enid; Patten, Scott; Tough, Suzanne; Crowshoe, Lynden (Lindsay); Beran, Tanya
    Background: Prenatal depression is a significant maternal-child health concern. Research on depression among pregnant Aboriginal women is limited. Given the unique historical and present-day societal context involved, targeted research is warranted. Objectives: 1) To understand the risk factors, protective factors and societal context of prenatal depression in Aboriginal populations. 2) To examine accessibility and safety of clinical and social service systems used by pregnant Aboriginal women, and how they can be improved. Methods: A multi-methods, community-based approach was taken. A qualitative constructivist grounded theory study (Voices and PHACES) was conceived and conducted in Calgary, in partnership with local health and social services and with involvement of Aboriginal community members and Elders. The study involved personal interviews with pregnant Aboriginal women (n=13) and service-providing professionals (n=12), and focus-groups with stakeholders (n=11). Additionally, secondary analysis was conducted of data from the All Our Babies study, a large epidemiological cohort study of n=3354 pregnant women in Calgary. Key results: In this population, the individual-level risk factors commonly associated with depression (e.g., socioeconomic status, chronic life stress) appear to be mediators of the effects of more upstream, systemic factors related to historical and present-day societal context (e.g., racism, sexism, social exclusion, and intergenerational trauma from colonization). Substance abuse was found to be a common coping mechanism for stress, trauma and depression, indicating that mental health issues need to be addressed in order to effectively manage addictions. Social support and traditional Aboriginal healing practices appear protective, and thus may be key intervention strategies. While services in Calgary appear to be working well in certain ways, a need was identified for more culturally-appropriate services, better networking among agencies, as well as strategies to increase accessibility, reduce stigma, and enhance a safe and empowering healing environment for patients and clients. Significance: This dissertation contributes to a better understanding of the determinants of prenatal depression in Aboriginal women, and how the determinants may be addressed in health and social services. Moreover, it opens the door for further research on this important yet understudied topic, and also for the design of effective, evidence-based interventions targeted to this population’s needs.