A case study of the Indigenous Health and Wellness Council : Indigenous self-determination in action

Title: “A case study of the Indigenous Health and Wellness Council: Indigenous self-determination in action”

Team: Dr. Amrita Roy (Principal Investigator), Dr. Colleen Grady, Dr. Joyla Furlano, Dr. Kaitlyn Patterson, Dr. Helene Laperriere, Laurel Claus-Johnson, Mireille LaPointe, Dionne Nolan, Kathy Brant, Mishiikenh / Vernon Altiman, Lynn Brant, Colleen Jackson, Wendy Vuyk, Lucas Gambacort (Graduate Research Associate), Darby Whittaker (Graduate Research Associate)

Trainees: Lucas Gambacort (Graduate Research Associate), Darby Whittaker (Graduate Research Associate), Dr. Joyla Furlano (postdoctoral fellow)

Partner Organizations: Indigenous Health and Wellness Council (formerly Indigenous Health Council); Kingston Community Health Centres; Queen’s University

Funder: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) (Partnership Engagement Grant, awarded 2021; Connection Grant, awarded 2024)

Description:

The harms of colonization manifest themselves in the present-day social and health disparities faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada. Healing from colonization for Indigenous peoples involves reconnecting with traditional culture and associated definitions of holistic wellness, and also reclaiming the path of self-determination. The Indigenous Health and Wellness Council (IHWC) of Kingston and surrounding area is a longstanding, grassroots, volunteer-run organization. Its members (almost all women) work to advance both holistic Indigenous wellness and Indigenous self-determination in the southeast Ontario region. 

This research involves a partnership between the IHWC and researchers from Queen’s University, guided by the principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) in ethical community-based research with Indigenous peoples. Using focus groups, interviews, and document reviews, this case study involves an in-depth examination of IHWC's past and present initiatives, use of resources, operational processes, governance structures, and partnership strategies used to advance its work on behalf of Indigenous peoples in the southeast Ontario region. This examination seeks to identify strengths and successes to highlight and emulate, and lessons learned from challenges faced and weaknesses or gaps recognized. The case study analysis seeks to help the IHWC develop an organizational action plan, as it looks to incorporate in order to optimize its work. Additionally, the case study seeks to produce a framework on how Indigenous self-determination looks like in practice at an organizational level. This understanding can assist other Indigenous-led organizations in meeting their goals. It can also assist mainstream governmental and non-governmental organizations and policymakers in more meaningfully engaging with Indigenous-led organizations.

Knowledge exchange of the case study results is being done in the following ways:

1) Film series about IHWC - Commissioning of Indigenous filmmaker Matt Lemay (Indigenous Geographic)

2) Community gathering held May 2025 - Knowledge exchange of research results with attendees (presentations and group discussions), a traditional feast, sacred fire

Final report: Forthcoming - check back soon!

Film series: Forthcoming - check back soon!