Pewaseskwan actively engages and collaborates with Indigenous communities and relevant stakeholders, including the College of Medicine, the University of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Health Authority and additional collaborators
Pewaseskwan (the Indigenous Wellness Research Group) is co-led by Dr. Alexandra King (Nipissing First Nation) and Prof. Malcolm King (Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation). Alexandra and Malcolm started the research group in 2015 while working at Simon Fraser University (SFU), on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəyə̓m (Musqueam), Sḵwxw̱ ú7mesh (Squamish), and səli̓lwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
In October 2017, Dr. King was appointed as the inaugural Cameco Chair in Indigenous Health and Wellness at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), and Professor Malcolm King as the Scientific Director of the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR). This marked the expansion of the research group in Treaty 6 territory and the Homeland of the Métis, where it was gifted the name Pewaseskwan (Cree for “the sky is clearing”). The teams are based at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, BC, and USask in Saskatoon, SK, as well as teams based in Ontario and Alberta.
Pewaseskwan actively engages and collaborates with Indigenous communities and relevant stakeholders to address health disparities and promote wellness. Aims typically include elucidating structural changes required for improving health outcomes, promoting health equity and shifting the focus towards wellness. The focus of the research lies in addressing the health and wellness needs of the Indigenous peoples, in a way that is culturally responsive and imbued with Indigenous methodologies and ceremonies. This research may include Western medicine, but the emphasis is on uplifting and bringing to the forefront Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, as these are critical to advancing wellness for and by Indigenous people in Canada.
Uplifting Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing
The teams collaborate with Indigenous communities, supporting them as they undertake their own health and wellness research. Pewaseskwan takes a unique approach to engagement, relationships, research and research services – all of which will better enable Indigenous communities to do their own health and wellness research effectively. Pewaseskwan supports them in developing their own research agendas and advocating for their needs, rather than relying on researchers to initiate studies.
Research projects are typically focused on land- and culture-based healing, wellness and methodologies. Pewaseskwan has achieved significant success through its innovative research, guided by the principle of Etuaptmumk (Two-eyed Seeing) and Ethical Space. This approach has helped build meaningful relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations. The teams are setting new nationally- recognized standards for conducting research with Indigenous peoples and communities while boosting Indigenous health research capacity.
$250 million worth of research projects
Pewaseskwan continues to make a profound impact nationally and internationally. Pewaseskwan co-leads, Dr. Alexandra King and Prof. Malcolm King are Investigators or co-Investigators in more than $250 million in Tri-Council research grants. They both provide Indigenous leadership across many research networks, encompassing various aspects of Indigenous health and wellness. Their expertise spans research areas that are focused on heart and the heart-brain interconnectome, diabetes, kidney disease, infectious diseases, regenerative medicine, rare diseases, patient-oriented research, and clinical trials training. Their leadership, expertise and dedication have positioned Pewaseskwan as a recognized and celebrated leader in the field of Indigenous wellness and research.
