Project 441587

With the legalization of cannabis in Canada, there is an urgent need for information about its effect on the Indigenous population. The impact of cannabis on the mental health of Indigenous people in Canada is unknown. Currently, research on mental health and Indigenous people emphasizes the risk of suicide and opioid drug use, with little information regarding cannabis and its effects on mental health. To date, urban and off-reserve First Nations and Metis populations are dramatically underrepresented in research. Further, ways of evaluating mental health in the current Canadian health system differ from traditional Indigenous knowledge of assessing wellness. Applying a colonial lens to Indigenous communities and individuals' health status further marginalizes and stigmatizes the unique challenges experienced by First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. Therefore, this research project will build on the work done by other Indigenous organizations' mental wellness assessments and further the evidence of the importance of cultural safety in promoting mental health. This project will help fill these gaps by establishing a network of multi-disciplinary experts that work closely with Indigenous people regarding mental health and cannabis. The online platform created will serve as a space where partners can come up with unified goals and research priorities around mental health, cannabis and indigenous women and gender diverse people. This project will identify research priorities to inform the development of larger research projects and create resources to fill some of the identified gaps. The research agenda on cannabis and mental health within the Indigenous population must be community-led and community-driven. By incorporating First Nations, Inuit, and Metis narratives and experiences into the evaluation of mental health and cannabis use, through Indigenous and decolonized methodologies, this project will be an important development for driving future research.