I-HeLTI News & Updates

Collaborating Centre 

Better Beginnings Workshop: The Collaborating Centre participated in the Better Beginnings workshop at the Alt Hotel University District. Along with about 32 Alberta-based pregnancy cohorts, the delegates from the collaborating center participated in open discussions around several related projects, community engagement strategies and data management. The I-HeLTI team from Maskwacis also provided an overview of the project and updates.  

Meeting with New Scientific Director CIHR: A strategic meeting was held with the Scientific Director of the CIHR Institue of Indigenous Peoples health (IIPH) to connect on the progress of the research and discuss future directions for the I-HeLTI project. This gathering supported the relationship building within the team and the CIHR team, reinforcing I-HeLTI’s commitment to national collaboration and Indigenous partnership. Read more: CIHR IRSC March 25, 2025 Newsletter 

Indigenous Data Sovereignty: Data Sovereignty made it to daytime television as Dr. Vanessa Watts, Assistant Professor in the McMaster’s department of sociology and Indigenous Studies, sat down with the ladies of The Social on CTV to share what Indigenous Data Sovereignty is and why it’s important. Watch the segment here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtWlCHn5Pv0 

Events: 

Indigenizing Health Symposium 2025: Being Safe With Our Culture Again : April 23-24, 2025 – Terra Cotta, Ontario: This event aims to share knowledges, and foster dialogue and collaboration about Indigenous health and cultural safety. This year’s symposium will be the third Ontario Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR) and Ontario Indigenous Mentorship Network (IMN) land-based gathering. 

 8th DOHaD Canada Annual Scientific Meeting in 2025: As in 2024 we are excited to partner again with CNPRM, ENRICH and CAMCCO-L to bring the Perinatal Child Health Research Community in Canada Together for a full week of perinatal research, training, education and outreach from 12th-15th May 2025. Please see here for details: https://www.cnprm.ca/. Date: May 12, 2025. Location: Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel in Montreal  

DOHaD 13th World Congress in September 2025: The 13th World Congress of the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD), to be held from September 7th to 10th, 2025, in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Learn more 

Institute of Indigenous Peoples Health National Think Tank: October 1-2, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario. The institute is pleased to be hosting a National Think Tank this fall, intended to facilitate discussions, promote knowledge sharing and establish Indigenous health research priorities. More info will be provided in the coming months. 

Send us your news! If you have stories that you would like to share, please send us an e-mail at reception@afnigc.ca  

Learning and Training Opportunities: 

The Evaluation Capacity Network: Indigenous –Informed Logic Models/theories of Change: The webinar discusses the differences between Western logic models/theories of change vs. Indigenous ones, and how to incorporate the latter into your own programming. The guest speaker highlights differences such as taking a strengths-based approach that prioritizes the restoration of balance within communities, community relationships, collective well-being, connection to land, community-led action and decision-making, and cultural revitalization.  

Send us your training opportunities! If you have any training that will assist our researchers, please send us an e-mail at reception@afnigc.ca