The University of Manitoba's Faculty of Education has made history with a landmark CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) Project Grant awarded to Assistant Professor Dr. Lucy Delgado. The $1,017,452 grant marks the largest grant the faculty has ever received and will fund Delgado's study on the health and well-being outcomes of Métis women and Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer (2S/IQ) people who participate in Métis-specific spaces.
A Commitment to Inclusion
"This work is deeply important and personal to me," said Delgado, whose accomplishments also include co-founding Pawaatamihk: Journal of Métis Thinkers and Mamawi Project . "I have been involved in Métis community organizing for years, and I want to ensure that Métis women and 2S/IQ people feel welcome, supported, and able to be all parts of themselves. This research will help us better understand how to create spaces that are safe, supportive, and culturally sustaining."
The project aims to develop a Framework of Métis Gathering Design (FMGD) and implement it through three gatherings across the Métis homeland Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Edmonton in partnership with Métis educational institutions such as the Louis Riel Institute and Rupertsland Institute.
Meaningful goals
Delgado will aim to identify cultural markers that contribute to culturally sustaining spaces, create a framework for gathering design, and assess the impact of these gatherings on health outcomes. "Through this work, we hope to provide clear directives for public institutions such as universities, hospitals, and schools on how to create and support Métis-specific spaces," Delgado explained.
More about Lucy Delgato and Research Collaborators
The historic grant adds to Delgado's impressive body of work, which has consistently focused on Métis-specific initiatives and advocacy for Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer communities. Delgado can also be seen featured in the new City of Winnipeg video series From Time Immemorial to Tomorrow: Indigenous Perspectives on Winnipeg 150
Regarding the work ahead, Delgado will collaborate with Co-Principal Applicant Dr. Laura Forsythe (UWinnipeg), Co-Investigator Dr. Michelle S. Driedger (UManitoba, Community Health Sciences), and Co-Investigator Dr. Heather Foulds (University of Saskatchewan).
Learn more about CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) Project Grant here.
