Indigenous Health Leadership Research Initiative

Dr. Hartney was awarded a Research and Professional Development grant to build the framework for effective Indigenous healthcare leadership focused on mental wellness and substance use.

The development and implementation of effective Indigenous healthcare leadership in BC and across Canada, as well as in other jurisdictions with Indigenous people, is a recognized need, which is yet to be met, as reflected in the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015), and the mandate letter of the current federal Minister of Health (Trudeau, 2016). Areas of particular concern include providing effective, appropriate, culturally safe mental wellness and substance use services. In British Columbia, this remains part of the mandate of the mainstream health system, as well as that of the newly formed First Nations Health Authority (2013). Central to accomplishing this is the building of trust within respectful, collaborative relationships, which honour Indigenous people, traditions, and practices, and provide opportunities for leadership and full participation in the research process. This proposal is for seed funding to be used by the Centre for Health Leadership and Research to lay the necessary groundwork for developing culturally appropriate health leadership research focused on mental wellness and substance use with Indigenous partners at Royal Roads University.