Katarokwi Indigenous Resilience during COVID-19 (KIRC-19) Project

Title: Katarokwi Indigenous Resilience during COVID-19 (KIRC-19) [aka: “Indigenous peoples living with chronic health issues during the COVID-19 era - examining experiences in Katarokwi (Kingston, Ontario area)”]

Partner organizations: South East Regional Cancer Program (Cancer Care Ontario); Indigenous Cancer Care Unit (Ontario Health); Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle; Indigenous Health and Wellness Council (formerly Indigenous Health Council); Street Health Centre (Kingston Community Health Centres); KFL&A Public Health; Addictions and Mental Health Services of KFL&A; Queen’s University

Team: Dr. Amrita Roy (Principal Investigator), Kaitlyn Patterson (Research Associate), Dionne Nolan, Dr. Amanda Sheppard, Autumn Watson, Mireille LaPointe, Laurel Claus-Johnson, Deb St. Amant, Kathy Brant, Mishiikenh / Vernon Altiman, Fran Chaisson, Sheldon Traviss, Dr. Sarah Funnell, Dr. Colleen Grady, Dr. Imaan Bayoumi, Dr. Michael Green, Dr. Meredith MacKenzie, Sheila Roewade, Sean Preston, Susan Stewart

Trainees: Kaitlyn Patterson (Graduate Research Associate)

Funder: Queen’s University (SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Grant, awarded 2020)

Description: Indigenous peoples have higher rates of chronic health issues compared to other groups in Canada. This is related to social disparities and barriers to accessing services, due to the ongoing impacts of colonization and racism. COVID-19 has created additional challenges around socioeconomic factors, social wellbeing, and access to services, over and above those already faced by Indigenous peoples. However, Indigenous individuals and communities also have remarkable strength and resilience in the face of challenges. This comes from factors such as traditional culture as a powerful force for wellness, and from a traditional worldview that values strong relational community connections. 

Using two studies (constructivist grounded theory and qualitative case study) conducted simultaneously, this multi-methods, community-based project centered in the principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) seeks to capture local experiences of both Indigenous individuals and Indigenous-focussed service groups in the Kingston area. Specifically, the objectives and associated products are as follows: 

1) To understand the experiences of Indigenous individuals living with chronic physical or mental health issues, vis-à-vis access to health and social services, in the early phases of COVID-19 [PRODUCT: A framework summarizing barriers and facilitators to service access];  

2) To understand the impact on holistic wellbeing of COVID-19-related stressors in Indigenous individuals already coping with chronic health issues [PRODUCT: A framework summarizing factors impacting wellness in the context of COVID-19-era stressors, as well protective factors that are sources of resilience and positive coping];  

3) To understand the experiences of Indigenous-focussed service groups as they work to meet their mandate in the early phases of COVID-19 [PRODUCT: A framework summarizing challenges faced, opportunities recognized, and strategies used]; 

4) To highlight alternative program delivery methods being used by Indigenous-focussed service groups.

For more information: 

KIRC-19 Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/KIRC19

Reports:

Report #1 Full Report – https://tinyurl.com/ed75ktwy

Report # 1 Results in Brief – https://tinyurl.com/4dtvu63a

Report # 2 is forthcoming - please visit the KIRC-19 Facebook page for updates.