Traditional knowledge is saving lives today

Building mental wellness through community-driven approaches

Research in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in Canada is evolving rapidly, as Indigenous communities are mobilizing to develop culturally appropriate studies of mental health. 

Shkaabe Makwa translates to "Spirit Bear" in the Anishinaabe language.

In 2020, CAMH launched Shkaabe Makwa—a unique centre that aims to transform health outcomes through the advancement of research, training and innovative healing models that harmonize traditional knowledge and medical expertise. 

“For some of us, we acknowledge the Bear as medicine, and others as a knowledge keeper, protector and healer. We believe that culture is central to healing and wellness—and we are committed to bringing about change in ways that respect and honour traditional knowledge and community expertise," says Dr. Renee Linklater, Senior Director of Shkaabe Makwa.

ECHO Ontario First Nations, Inuit and Métis Wellness is one early example of Shkaabe Makwa’s collaborative initiatives, led in partnership with the ECHO Ontario Mental Health program at CAMH. ECHO is a video-conferencing program that gathers Ontario-based health care providers who support Indigenous patients to learn and problem-solve together, promoting an integrated approach to health and wellness that values medical and Indigenous knowledge.

Community-based research

CAMH’s commitment to creating research models that have visible impacts within communities is realized through a unique partnership between Shkaabe Makwa and the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research at CAMH. At the core of these models is collaboration involving meaningful, respectful engagement with the community. An example of this collaboration can be seen in the Kettle and Stony Point community in southern Ontario where CAMH researchers co-developed an initiative focusing on the wellbeing of men and boys. The men taking part in this study identified spirit-centredness—the connection to Spirit, the Creator and the natural world—as a crucial factor in their well-being. Real-world impacts of this work include the development of new mental health and substance use services, including a sweat lodge, tipi and garden.

Suicide prevention in the North

CAMH psychiatrist Dr. Allison Crawford says that despite an ongoing youth mental health crisis in the north, the voices of Indigenous youth themselves are often missing in the search for solutions.

She is the scientific lead for Project CREATeS (Circumpolar Resilience Engagement and Action Through Story), an online video project that is addressing this gap by engaging youth in conversations about suicide prevention. Project CREATeS is a digital storytelling initiative co-led by CAMH and features over 30 videos made by Indigenous youth from Canada, The United States, Finland and Greenland. 

These projects are just a few examples of how CAMH is adapting research approaches to meet the mental health needs of Indigenous people, paving a path for future studies that are collaborative, culturally aligned and co-created with communities.