Coordinating Emergency Response

Indigenous peoples in the Western hemisphere have a tragic history with communicable disease. Narratives of disease and First Nations communities are most often deficit-based, and draw on pan-Indigenous narratives that erase individuality among diverse Indigenous cultures and nations. This project challenges these narratives and patterns in health research, through an examination of Indigenous community driven and specific sovereignty-based solutions that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic and in response to concurrent, increasingly intense and frequent ecological emergencies that disproportionately impact Indigenous communities.

In this study, we are collaborating with Stellat’en, Nadleh Whut’en, Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, and Tseshaht First Nations, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council staff, and First Nations Health Authority to analyze parallels between ecological emergency response and COVID-19 response planning. We will explore Nation-led response efforts to these emergencies, and how these efforts may have impacted community well being, health, and self-determination.

This project draws on Indigenous research methodologies, grounded in OCAP® principles and community-based research methods to support First Nation self-determination, and to measure increased Nation-based decision making and control during health and ecological emergencies.

We aim to mobilize findings to help other First Nations communities adapt their community-specific emergency responses, and provide recommendations for future long-term infectious disease health and ecological crisis planning.

Research Partners:

First Nations Health Authority
Nadleh Whut’en First Nation
Stellat’en First Nation
Nuu-chah-nulth Nations
Heiltsuk First Nation

Research Team:

Dr Lyana Patrick, Faculty of Health Sciences, SFU
Dr Dawn Hoogeveen, Faculty of Health Sciences, SFU & First Nations Health Authority
Dr Clifford Atleo, School of Resource and Environmental Management, SFU
Alya Govorchin, MSc Student, Faculty of Health Sciences, SFU
Maëve Leduc, MSc Student, Faculty of Health Sciences, SFU
Irina Borgos, MSc Student, School of Resource and Environmental Management, SFU