
RESEARCH INITIATIVES &
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
ABOUT RESEARCH INITIATIVES & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Welcome to the Research Initiatives & Social Development at the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, where First Nations-led research is at the forefront. Chief Norman Bone reminds us that, as Indigenous people, research has always been part of our journey for understanding and survival.
Our Chiefs have set clear conditions for research involving First Nations emphasizing:
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Free, prior and informed consent (collective and individual ).
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Adherence to First Nations OCAP principles.
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Benefits to First Nations.
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Respecting First Nations ethical standards.
Our focus is to empower First Nations in the research process. We are not subjects, we are leaders and partners. Our groundbreaking initiatives include the Regional Health Survey, Health Information Research Governance Committee, Innovation Supporting Transformation in Community-Based Primary Health Care Research Project (iPHIT), and more. All designed to gather and interpret data from a First Nations perspective.
Join us in this transformative journey, where research becomes a powerful tool for understanding, addressing needs, and preserving our unique cultures. Explore our projects and be part of a community-driven approach to research and development.

VISION STATEMENT
“We honour and respect First Nations data sovereignty and research governance, while acknowledging our sacred responsibility to support our First Nation communities towards self-determination of their own stories, information and data.”
OUR PROJECTS & GROUPS
Click on the project name to view information about the project
LINKS AND INFORMATION
Please click on the links to view more information regarding the Research Initiatives & Social Development.

MISSION STATEMENT
“FNHSSM Research is committed to capturing, protecting, and sharing our stories, information, and data that supports and benefits the well-being of our First Nations communities, as led and directed by our Nations needs, priorities, and requirements.”
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
01
RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS:
We honour our role in ensuring that respectful relationships are renewed and developed, while creating safe space to always do our work in a respectful way.
02
HONOURING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR NATIONS:
We respect each of our five language groups (Cree, Anishinabe,
Anishininew, Dakota and Dene) and the sovereignty of the 63 First Nations we work with and for.
03
SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION AND HEALING:
We uphold the spiritual values of our First Nation communities and the connection we have with spirit and our cultural way of life. We honour the healing and wellness journeys of ourselves, our people, and our Nations.
04
TRUST AND COMMITMENT:
We practice accountability and transparency and allow First Nations to direct and lead the path forward. We are committed to the work that is set out for us in First Nations research and data sovereignty.
05
ETHICS AND INTEGRITY:
We commit to ethical practices in the work that we do and ensure that we walk in a good way grounded in culture, ceremony, and First Nation worldviews. We walk with integrity and unity for our First Nation communities and people.
06
PROTECT AND SUPPORT:
We ensure that First Nations data and information are protected, while collectively supporting First Nation Self-Determination in Research Governance and Data Sovereignty.
07
OVERSIGHT AND LEADERSHIP:
We ensure that the HIRGC process is honoured and respected. We acknowledge the direction of our Board of Directors and leadership in the work that we do.
OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
The Strategic Priorities are the values that will guide the FNHSSM Research Team to achieve its goals and path forward. The priorities align with the vision, mission and guiding principles. The representation of the lodges reflects our cultural way of life and how we came together collectively in our communities to address different areas to move forward in a good way.

KNOWLEDGE BUILDING LODGE
(Data Sovereignty, Research Governance and Engagement)

TEACHING LODGE
(Education, Training and Awareness)

KNOWLEDGE LODGE
(Epi Center and Data Repository)

KNOWLEDGE TO ACTION LODGE
(Research Journal, Reports and Publications)
OUR TEAM

Adele
Clinical Peer Resource Specialist

Bekelu
Research Asssistant

Cindy
Administrative Assistant - Community Liaison

Erin
Front-end Application Developer

Leanne
Data Collection Training Coordinator

Stephanie
Midwife Advisor

William
Research Manager

April
Administrative Assistant - Community Liaison

Carla
Data Sovereignty Implementation Lead

Dean
Regional Health Survey Coordinator

Jillian
Research Public Health Epidemiologist

Leona
Director of Research

Taylor
Health Systems Impact Postdoctoral Fellow

Ashley
Project Manager

Chelsea
Web Developer

Donna
Executive Assistant

Joanna
Project Manager

Sage
Research Ethics Coordinator

Vanessa
Regional Social Survey Coordinator

Ashley
Administrative Assistant/Training Coordinator

Chyloe
Statistical Analyst

Elizabeth
Nurse Program Advisor

Joyce
Peer Resource Specialist

Stephanie
Data Sovereignty Lead

Wanda
Indigenous Research Chair in Nursing
Last Updated: 2024-10-16