ISHKODE RESEARCH GROUP

Since our inception in 2020, we have partnered with communities, organizations, and governments to co-create applied health and wellness research that responds directly to their priorities. We believe research is most impactful when it is collaborative, rooted in respect, and guided by the voices of those it serves.

Health and wellness are deeply connected to systems beyond healthcare, including education, child welfare, justice, the environment, local governance, and spirituality. Recognizing this, we work alongside diverse and interdisciplinary rights holders and stakeholders to address complex, real world challenges. Our goal is to generate and share knowledge that leads to meaningful and lasting improvements in health and wellness, as defined by the very people and communities our research is meant to benefit.

Our Name and Logo

Gifted the name Ishkode, Anishinaabemowin for "fire" or "first spark in your heart”, by Elders Ningwakwe George and Lori Kewaquom of Saugeen First Nation, the lab embodies the spirit of renewal, resilience, and connection. Ishkode serves as a space, both physical and virtual, where students, researchers, and community partners come together to conduct research that is responsive, respectful, and rooted in self-determination. Central to its mission are mentorship, cultural humility, and ensuring research outcomes are accessible and impactful beyond academia.

Name and Logo Launch Video

About Us

Key Areas of Research

Integrated knowledge sharing and mobilization in research and community contexts
Health and wellness programs/services asset mapping
Mental health, addictions, and trauma-informed supports
Indigenous community-governed or -partnered health research
Community mental health
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Interdisciplinary and Indigenous Pathways to Wellness is involved in projects that extend beyond the key areas of research listed above, as well as embody or study the areas above. For example, while all Indigenous health research projects are governed by and/or partnered with Indigenous communities, we are also collaborating on developing, piloting, and evaluating online training on Indigenous community research partnerships, principles, and practices. We collaborate with other community and research partners on projects in areas such as cultural safety, data governance and surveillance, and culturally-specific health indicators.