Project 450038

Indigenous gender and identity are deeply rooted in cultural practices. Gender affects identities, choice of occupation, and participation in ceremony and cultural activities. Through Indigenous cosmologies, gender is viewed wholistically, with people of many genders holding important roles in families and communities. Gender and identity are overlooked in research, especially action-oriented, Indigenous-led, community-based participatory wellness projects. The purpose of this study is to bring together Indigenous youth, young adults, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers to share/create knowledge, raise awareness and improve understanding of Indigenous concepts of gender and identity to co-develop strengths-based Indigenous-led culturally safe and gendered approaches for self-determination and improved wellness. Friendship and Métis Centres, local Community Research Liaisons, Advisory Teams, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, youth/young adults, and the research team will work to support knowledge creation/sharing of Indigenous-led priorities, and action-oriented community-based projects related to gender and identity to improve wellness among urban Indigenous Peoples. Knowledge creation will occur through Talking/Healing/Learning Circles, Community Gatherings, Cultural Safety Education & Resilience Gatherings, site-specific interventions, and surveys. Multi-site, multi-sectoral partnerships will be developed for knowledge mobilization, and collaboration/communication strategies. The project will explore (intersections) what gender, identity and wellness mean to urban Indigenous youth/young adults (wellness indicators) in a life-long connection to the land, their culture, and one another. Indigenous ways of understanding will guide the co-development of adaptable wholistic pathways/models of gender, identity and wellness for programs/activities, and regional/community-specific wellness indicators, that can be shared with other urban Indigenous communities and organizations.