Funding for reconciliation in action in Saskatchewan
- Chelsea Cunningham for SHRF
- Mar 13
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 3
Updated April 3, 2025
First established in 2021, SHRF's Truth & Action Grant is a direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action. It reflects SHRF's commitment to meaningful action and reconciliation in the health research communities of Saskatchewan.
This funding, provided within the umbrella of SHRF's 'Connections' Program, looks to support initiatives for up to one year that directly address one or more of the TRC's Calls to Action through the sharing of health research and traditional knowledge.
Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) is excited to announce the following projects funded through the SHRF 2024-25 Mobilize Grant: Truth & Action.
The funding is awarded on a rolling intake. Six projects have been funded for an investment of ~$60,000.
Applications for 2025-26 continue to be accepted on an ongoing basis. Application information can be found at shrf.ca/mobilize-truth-and-action.
Sharing Witaya: Building Transnational Two Spirit and IndigiQueer Communities
Led by Melissa Dykhuizen (Saskatchewan Polytechnic)
$9,452
A diverse team of community members and researchers hosted the Witaya Two Spirit, IndigiQueer, 2SLGBTQIA+ Gathering, funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), in June 2022. Witaya created a collaborative space for 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous individuals, community leaders, and health researchers to connect, learn, and foster resilience through cultural activities, presentations, and discussions. By bringing together the Two Spirit community across multiple prairie provinces, the Witaya Gathering strengthened the development of the Two Spirit Alliance of Saskatchewan (2SAS), with several Witaya attendees going on to become official founding members of 2SAS.
A 2SAS community member who was instrumental in co-organizing and executing Witaya will lead additional knowledge-sharing efforts. Sharing Witaya will showcase how community-led, culturally grounded initiatives can promote health equity and community connections, aiming to inspire similar efforts globally.
Wheels of Wisdom: Culturally Grounded Assistive Devices for Nehiyawak (Plains) and Maskêkowiyiniwak (Swampy) Cree and Métis Elders
Led by Chris Zhang (University of Saskatchewan), Lee Wilson (University of Saskatchewan), Lori Bradford (University of Saskatchewan), Duncan Cree (McMaster University)
$10,000
The vision for this project is to mobilize perspectives on assistive wheeled mobility devices that deeply reflect and honor the social, cultural, and environmental contexts of Nehiyawak (Plains Cree) and Maskêkowiyiniwak (Swampy Cree) and Métis communities. Rather than imposing external design criteria, this project begins with the sharing of lived experiences, knowledge, and values of Indigenous wheeled device users and their communities.
Through community-engaged and interdisciplinary collaboration, design constraints and requirements to more effectively provide wheeled device-related healthcare will be explored. We will co-design the requirements, constraints, and specific needs for wheeled devices using Indigenous approaches, methodologies, and decolonize the design process by designing-prototyping wheeled devices in communities, where they are actually used. This work contributes to Indigenous health research by promoting cultural competences in designers, and centering Indigenous knowledges through partnerships among Elders, community members, chief and councils and engineers to encourage more inclusive healthcare design.
“Métis are People Who Gather”: Sharing research and stories through theatre
Led by Heather Foulds (University of Saskatchewan)
$10,000
Through a Heart and Stroke/CIHR-funded research project partnering with Saskatoon Métis Local 126, Métis People participated in an Indigenous methodology, qualitative interview photovoice exercise. The results of this project identified connections to identity, culture, and community as important for Métis People’s health and wellbeing. The next step is to bring together Métis researchers, community members, Playwrights and accomplices to compile, interpret, and synthesize these research findings in a culturally appropriate, community-based way.
From the photos, conversations, and themes of the photovoice exercise, key messages and stories will be compiled to develop an innovative, Métis-centred, culturally appropriate, community-driven theatre-based knowledge translation output to share the importance of Métis identity, community, and culture for health and wellbeing of Métis People. The theatre production concept and summary will be presented at a Saskatoon Métis Local 126 event to share the research findings and gain community feedback on development of the theatre-based knowledge mobilization initiative prior to full production.
Virtual Interventions and Community Connections for Indigenous Youth (VICCIY): Provincial Wellness Summit for Youth Living in Rural and Remote Saskatchewan
Led by Lindsey Boechler (Saskatchewan Polytechnic)
$10,000
The Virtual Interventions and Community Connections for Indigenous Youth (VICCIY) Initiative has been a transformative effort in supporting the mental health and well-being of Indigenous youth in Saskatchewan. Since its launch in La Loche in 2020, VICCIY has collaborated with youth from various rural and remote Indigenous communities, using a community-based action research model to address gaps in mental health care. This approach interweaves culturally grounded practices with innovative virtual reality (VR) technology, enhancing access to care while preserving Indigenous traditions.
The provincial youth summit is a key component of the VICCIY Initiative, offering a culturally grounded and inclusive experience for youth from high schools located in rural, remote and northern Indigenous communities. The focus is on improving access to care, preserving Indigenous cultures and languages, and ensuring the development of wellness resources tailored to the diverse needs of adolescents in rural and remote communities across Saskatchewan.
By fostering these connections and creating culturally responsive supports, the initiative contributes to building relationships in the spirit of reconciliation.
Heart to Heart: A Coming Together of Indigenous Youth
Led by Tristan Hopper (University of Regina)
$10,000
This project supports a youth-focused, co-production of knowledge mobilization activities alongside Indigenous youth who have been and are part of Street Culture Project (SCP). Following the ‘Heart to Heart’ event, youth with a vested interest in Indigenous youth mental health will be invited to join a ‘youth learning team’, which will deliver a series of youth-led workshops on the importance of addressing Indigenous youth mental health services in Regina.
Indigenous youth are twice as likely to die by suicide in Saskatchewan. It is critical to identify youth-centred, strengths-based strategies that prevent mental health crises and promote well-being where youth are valued for their skills and abilities, not their deficits. The research team, composed of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars and community leaders, are actively engaging with Indigenous youth leaders in the co-development of a youth-focused gathering and youth-led workshops. The purpose of the ‘Heart to Heart’ youth gathering and subsequent youth-led workshops are (1) to provide space for Indigenous youth to enact agency over their lives meaningfully and the impact mental health has on Indigenous young persons in Regina, SK and (2) to provide a platform for Indigenous youth to co-create and to share tangible resources (e.g., youth-led workshops) that teachers, policymakers, healthcare workers, and Elders can refer to as a resource to guide and enhance their practice.
Keepers of the Talking Quilt
Led by Eileen Zaba (Saskatchewan Polytechnic)
$10,000
The Talking Quilt Ceremony was held February 6, 2025 at Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Saskatoon campus.
Read the full press release at saskpolytech.ca/news/posts/2025/talking-quilt-women-of-james-smith-cree-nation.
The Keepers of the Talking Quilt Ceremony is a deeply meaningful ceremony to mark the transfer of care for the Talking Quilt, a cherished cultural artifact, from James Smith Cree Nation to Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
Since 2000, women from James Smith Cree Nation have gathered to sew quilt squares while they shared stories of hardships, including residential school experiences and abuse they have experienced over the course of their lives. The founder of the Talking Quilt was Ruby Head. Each square of the quilt tells a unique story, highlighting matriarchal journeys, truths and healing.
Elder Sandra Head shared the story of Talking Quilt with Sask Polytech researchers Eileen Zaba and Lindsey Boechler while they were working with the community on an applied research project. The Keepers of the Talking Quilt Ceremony was funded by SHRF and Sask Polytech Centre for Health Research, Innovation and Scholarship (CHRIS).
About SHRF - Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) is the provincial funding agency that funds, supports and promotes the impact of health research that matters to Saskatchewan. SHRF collaborates with stakeholders to contribute to the growth of a high-performing health system, culture of innovation and the improved health of citizens by strengthening research capacity and competitiveness, increasing the investment in health research in Saskatchewan and aligning research with the needs of our stakeholders.
For more information, please contact:
Chelsea Cunningham, SHRF Programs and Engagement Manager
Comments