Canadian universities are working to Indigenize and decolonize spaces, processes, and policies, across campuses. However, Indigenous voices cover a spectrum of expressions from a variety of territories, who may have different needs and expectations, including Métis students, faculty, and staff.
“Métis people are the fastest growing Indigenous Nation in Canada,” noted UWinnipeg’s Dr. Laura Forsythe, assistant professor in the Faculty of Education. “Yet Métis epistemologies and ontologies are often not considered in the design and implementation of these Indigenization strategies.”
Métis are sometimes overlooked within the broader category of Indigenous Peoples.
dr. Laura Forsythe
To improve the Métis experience, Dr. Forsythe and UMantoba’s Dr. Lucy Delgado will examine the health and wellbeing outcomes for Métis women and Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer (2S/IQ) people who participate in Métis-specific spaces. They will be collaborating with Dr. Michelle Driedger, UManitoba and Dr. Heather Foulds USaskatchewan. This research is part of a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant valued at $1,017,452.
Through data collected as part of a series of gatherings, interviews, and qualitative surveys, this project, The impact of Métis-specific spaces on the health and wellness of Métis women and Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer people, will measure the outcomes for Métis women and 2S/IQ peoples engaged in Métis-specific spaces. This data will help provide a framework for post-secondary institutions to create their own safe Métis-specific spaces.
“Métis are sometimes overlooked within the broader category of Indigenous Peoples,” explained Dr. Forsythe. “Creating spaces specifically for Métis can acknowledge their unique knowledge systems and foster a sense of belonging within academic institutions.”
This research will help create succinct and measurable directives for the creation of Métis-specific spaces which improve health outcomes for Métis women and 2S/IQ people across university campuses.
This research will help us understand the different ways that Métis women and 2S/IQ people experience the Indigenous umbrella and Métis-specific spaces and articulate the core values that are necessary to enhance Métis women and 2S/IQ peoples’ wellbeing, including relational accountability, and cultural safety.
