About CIEDAR
CIEDAR (CoVaRR-Net’s Indigenous Engagement, Development, and Research Pillar 7) is an Indigenous and woman-led group of researchers, public health workers, and community members across Turtle Island. We are passionate about seeing Indigenous communities thrive during current and future pandemics. Our mandate is to build strong partnerships with and be relevant to Indigenous communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
Executive team
CIEDAR’s Advisory Council
CIEDAR’s advisory council is key to the research activities and efforts of CIEDAR. They direct and guide our research and outreach efforts by providing expert advice, participating in all stages of the research process, and connecting us to community. Specifically, they:
- are research collaborators
- are representatives of their communities as they contribute valuable insight into the needs of Indigenous communities
- receive and disseminate updates from CIEDAR to their respective communities and networks
Partner with us
Central to CIEDAR’s work is a commitment to building strong partnerships
Interested in partnering with us? Contact tamara.chavez@ubc.ca
Dr. Kimberly R. Huyser
Kimberly Huyser (enrolled Tribal member of the Navajo Nation) grew up on the Navajo reservation in Arizona, USA. She is a sociologist and Diné woman whose work and research are dedicated to the lives and opportunities of Indigenous populations. Kimberly believes that CIEDAR is an opportunity to amplify the voices and understand the experiences of Indigenous People through the pandemic.
Dr. Michelle Johnson-Jennings
Michelle Johnson-Jennings (Choctaw Nation-enrolled Tribal member) is a mother of four, renowned scholar, professor, and leader in land-based healing for Indigenous Peoples around the world. Over the decades, Michelle has co-developed land-based health interventions entrenched in ancestral guidelines to encourage a renewed commitment to well-being and revitalization of medicine, food, and land-based practices. As an Indigenous health psychologist, Michelle sees CIEDAR as essential in providing a network of sharing among Indigenous communities across the world to prevent variants of concern. In particular, this network brings top scientists and Indigenous partners together to exchange strategies and ideas to prevent and reduce the risks of COVID-19 variants of concern, especially as related to land-based healing practices.
Dr. Katherine A. Collins
Katie Collins (mixed Cree and Irish ancestry, citizen of the Métis Nation) is a social psychologist who strongly believes in the power of research to make the world a better place. Being a part of CIEDAR provides Katie the opportunity to make a difference – to improve the lives of Indigenous Peoples and strengthen communities.
Felix J. Lockhart
Felix J. Lockhart has been in leadership roles for most of his life. The first time was when he was honoured by the Elders in his community when they selected him as Councillor in a Non-Indian Act election system. He went on to serve as Chief for the Lutselk’e Dene First Nation for seven intermittent terms, for a total of 17 years. He was also elected to be Grand Chief of Akaitcho Territory Government between 1997 and 1999. In addition to these leadership roles, Mr. Lockhart was the Founding Chair of the Dene Cultural Institute. He has extensive knowledge as a sports fishing guide and seasonal Caribou Range forest fire fighter. Mr. Lockhart is an avid hunter, trapper, and fisherman and is a fluent Dënesulinè speaker. Mr. Lockhart presently works as an Elder, Traditional Cultural Advisor, and Facilitator with the Indigenous Wellness Program at the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife.
Maureen Dobbins
Maureen Dobbins, RN, PhD, is a professor in the School of Nursing at McMaster University. Her research efforts seek to understand knowledge translation among public health decision-makers in Canada. Her program of research has: identified barriers and facilitators to research; explored the information needs of public health decision-makers; and developed, implemented and evaluated a variety of knowledge translation strategies for public health decision-makers. Since 2001, she has been the Director of Health Evidence, a single source of high-quality reviews on the effectiveness of public health interventions and one component of a comprehensive knowledge translation strategy for public health decision-makers worldwide. Since 2011, Maureen has been the Scientific Director of the National Collaborating Centre Methods and Tools (NCCMT), one of six National Collaborating Centres for Public Health in Canada. The NCCMT provides leadership and expertise in helping public health professionals put research evidence into policy and practice.
Sheila Blackstock
Sheila Blackstock (Gitxsan Nation), RN, MScN, COHN, PhD, also holds an Advanced Specialty in Occupational Health Nursing. Over 34 years, Sheila has worked in acute care, critical care, rural nursing, aboriginal health, community and occupational health nursing. This vast nursing experience situates Sheila with a solid foundation for her current position as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Northern British Columbia. She developed an interdisciplinary Indigenous health theory course that has become a requisite course for undergraduate nurses at Thompson Rivers University School of Nursing, as well as a rural, Indigenous nursing practice course.
Sheila has developed curricula in concert with Indigenous communities to ensure that her courses carefully reflect Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Her program of research uses a decolonizing approach to empower nurses in health care organizations to mitigate nursing incivility. As an Indigenous nurse expert, she has recently contributed to a text on palliative care nursing and to a book to teach nurses how to work in partnership with Indigenous Peoples across the country to advance their holistic health outcomes. Sheila was appointed to the provincial Board of Directors of the British Columbia First Nations Health Authority and to the In Plain Site provincial task team.
Renée Masching
Renée Masching (she/her) is a member of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation and has Irish decent. She was adopted as an infant and grew up in a family of Eastern and Western European heritage. Professionally, Renée’s energies are passionately committed to Indigenous health and wellness.
Renée earned degrees in Social Work and Psychology at McMaster University, with a Canadian Institutes of Health Research award for her Master of Social Work. Her work in the Indigenous HIV/AIDS community began in 1995 and she is honoured to contribute with dedication and determination.
Renée began working with CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks in 2005 and presently is the Director of Research. CAAN’s head office is located in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan and their Eastern office is based in Nova Scotia, Canada on Millbrook First Nation lands. CAAN’s research and programs expanded in focus in 2012 to be inclusive of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI).
Renée’s research interests focus on community-based research frameworks, Indigenous knowledges, Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, and community health with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS and STBBI. She lives as a visitor with her husband, sons and pets, by the Atlantic ocean in Mi’kmaq Territory.
Calvin Racette
Calvin Racette retired from an education career that spanned 34 years. He obtained a Masters Degree from the University of Regina. His entire career focused on Indigenous Education. He worked as a classroom teacher, an administrator and a program coordinator. He also was fortunate to have opportunities to research and write about Métis history. He has had several publications in Métis history and is seen as a local historian by the community.
Calvin also serves on several committees and boards as a representative of the Métis community in the areas of history and culture. His most recent work was as a resource person in a video production called Métis Knowledge Keepers. His wish is to support the work of the Indigenous community to create a voice so they can tell their story.
Calvin recently got involved as a Knowledge Keeper and represents the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan on several committees, in the areas of education and health. He is actively involved in community-based and land-based research. The majority of his time is spent with projects that are helping the Métis community bridge to the research agencies. He is very involved in helping the agencies implement a reconciliation agenda and builds the connections.
Calvin sees the Qu’Appelle Valley as his home and the Métis people of the Valley as his community. His work is a reflection of their story and history. Having his community represented in the areas of education and health is central to his work. Making the world a better place for his grandchildren is a prime consideration in his daily life.
Tamara Chavez
Tamara Chavez (immigrant settler from El Salvador with Nawat ancestry) holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s in human rights. She has had the opportunity to work on a range of community-based/participatory research projects alongside various groups. As CIEDAR’s project manager, Tamara looks to connect and build relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities.
Mary Jessome
Mary Jessome is a PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia. For Mary, CIEDAR is a unique opportunity to work alongside Indigenous folk who believe that research can capture and amplify Indigenous voices. As CIEDAR’s research manager, Mary looks forward to using research as a way of sharing the stories of the different communities CIEDAR partners with.
Carly Morrisseau
Carly Morrisseau (Cree and Métis) holds a BFA (Honors) in Drawing and Native Studies from Brandon University. Their artistic pursuits are centred around revitalizing the Cree language and striving to increase the representation of Indigenous People in mainstream media.
Learn more about our work
Join us June 8th for “Hearing Indigenous Voices
During the COVID-19 Pandemic”
In conjunction with UBC Health, we’re presenting this hybrid symposium on Indigenous health during the pandemic. Indigenous scholars from Canada, US, and New Zealand will be participating. We’ll be discussing lessons learned about conducting research and Indigenous resilience during the pandemic.
Date: Thursday, June 8th at 9 AM
Where: Jack Pool Hall, UBC Alumni Centre. In-person attendance includes catered breakfast and lunch.
Participants have the option of in-person and virtual attendance.
RSVP now!
Our Team
CIEDAR’s Advisory Council
CIEDAR’s advisory council is key to the research activities and efforts of CIEDAR. They direct and guide our research and outreach efforts by providing expert advice, participating in all stages of the research process, and connecting us to community. Specifically, they:
- are research collaborators
- are representatives of their communities as they contribute valuable insight into the needs of Indigenous communities
- receive and disseminate updates from CIEDAR to their respective communities and networks
Current Projects
1. Social Determinants of Health and COVID-19 Case Incidence Study Across Canada
The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every person, community, organization, and country around the world. Unfortunately, the various impacts of the pandemic have not been equally distributed. Indigenous Peoples living in North America have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Indigenous Peoples are at higher risk of COVID-19 due to the historical and ongoing legacy of settler colonialism and systemic racism.
In Canada, there is a dearth of disaggregated COVID-19 data. As such, it is not clear exactly how Indigenous persons have been differentially impacted. The social determinants of health study aims to answer these questions so that appropriate resources can be allocated.
2. Hearing Indigenous Voices Survey
In order to hear Indigenous voices, to identify their needs, and to understand their experiences during the pandemic, CIEDAR has implemented an international survey in Canada and the United States. We plan to use what we learn from Indigenous community members to guide our future research and initiatives, to amplify exemplary responses, and to advocate for the changes that they wish to see.
3. #BeadAndThrive Social Media Campaign
The Indigenous #BeadAndThrive Campaign is an initiative that invites all Indigenous persons currently residing on Turtle Island to share their lived experiences of thrivance. For example, one of our community members shared this statement about where they find thrivance:
“During this pandemic we were able to thrive by simply stepping outside for 5 minutes and listening to the calls of nature.”
CIEDAR hopes to hear these stories of Indigenous thrivance, to learn from them, and to amplify them in order to empower others. In addition, we hope to facilitate connection or reconnection to culture and community through beading as a practice that helps Indigenous Peoples not only cope with the pandemic but to thrive through it.
More about #BeadAndThrive
Beading, to us, represents Indigenous thrivance. This traditional craft has existed throughout our long history, but it is not unchanging. Instead, history shows that Indigenous makers have continually adapted and modernized the craft, incorporated new materials and designs, and consistently kept it relevant to who we are. It demonstrates our ingenuity, adaptability, and creativity. It connects us to our ways and our community, which helps us cope.
We have connected with beading influencers and will be sharing how-to bead videos like the following:
We will also be sharing why-to bead like the following:
Win Indigenous Art!
Community members who share their thrivance stories will be eligible to win Indigenous art. Here are some examples of what you could win by participating.
“Michif (Métis) people are known as the flower beadwork people. Utilizing trade kinship relationships and traditional Indigenous ways of knowing, they created a style unique to them as a people. For this piece, I decided to create a vintage but modern style flower, modelling it after a cherry blossom. Just like the spring season that feels as if it will never come after a cold winter, cherry blossoms meet the season with their gorgeous blooms. The beads used in this project are from the late 1800s Europe – the same that could have been used by my ancestors through the dark days after the resistance. I incorporated a pearl to show how beautiful things can be made from single grains coming together. I also used tanned hide from a Squamish nation powwow. All of these elements work together to symbolize a continuum of rising after difficult times to find a new way, to create gems from sand, to bloom after a cold winter – thrivance.”
– By Emma Love-Cabana at Three Sisters by Emma
Turtle and Fireweed
– Autumn Smith
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