New director of Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre appointed

SASKATOON

After more than a decade of working with Indigenous groups in defining healthy communities, JoLee Sasakamoose has assumed leadership of the Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre as the new director, under the guidance of the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

An Anishinabe (Ojibwe) from the Three Fires Confederacy in Michigan and Ontario, with membership in M’Chigeeng First Nation and an active citizen of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Sasakamoose’s appointment was effective Jan. 1.

“I am honored and accept this opportunity to lead a nationally-recognized research centre that harmonizes Indigenous knowledges to restore Indigenous health capacity,” said Sasakamoose.

“Our strength will be in our partnerships and engaging Indigenous peoples in developing the way forward.  We are at a time of tremendous change and we have the opportunity to shape the provincial health landscape within Saskatchewan and beyond.”

Sasakamoose’s research explores the intergenerational effects of historical trauma with Indigenous peoples and the use of traditional healing methods in the promotion of health and wellbeing. In partnership with the First Nations communities of Saskatchewan, she co-authored the Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory, a theoretical framework to improve wellbeing of Indigenous peoples.

In January, Sasakamoose and University of Saskatchewan clinician Dr. Stuart Skinner were awarded a $2 million Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) grant to refine and expand an on-reserve diagnosis and treatment program (Know Your Status) for HIV, hepatitis C virus and sexually transmitted blood-borne infections.

She was also a co-recipient of a $772,000 CIHR grant to study how to adopt culturally-appropriate ways to integrate physical activity into the daily lives of Indigenous youth to foster better physical, mental and emotional health.

Sasakamoose is an associate professor of Educational Psychology and Indigenous Counselling in the University of Regina’s Faculty of Education and a methodologist with the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient Oriented Research.