Maskwacîs Maternal Child & Family Wellbeing: Relationships Through Trust

Webinar

This webinar (and follow-up live discussion) will reflect on trust within the Maskwacîs Maternal Child and Family Wellbeing Research Group. For this long-standing community-based participatory research partnership, trust in their relationships has been foundational. Presenters will discuss several key elements that are central to developing trust-building, including coming together in ceremony, practicing humility, becoming personally and emotionally invested in each other’s lives, and prioritizing time, effort and flexibility to actively work on relationships.

This presentation will discuss how this approach compels reframing Western perspectives and overcoming long-standing institutional barriers, such that enduring and trusting relationships are the focus and not a means to an end.

Live Discussion

Following the presentation, CBRCanada will facilitate a live discussion to explore implications for practice. Breakout groups will be facilitated by webinar presenters. The event will conclude with a large group report-back dialogue. The live discussion will not be recorded. CBRCanada will share an infographic highlighting key discussion themes following the event.

Presenters

• Dr. Richard T. Oster: Scientific Director, Indigenous Wellness Core, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary

• Mosom Rick Lightning: Elder and Knowledge Holder, Ermineskin Cree Nation, Alberta, Canada; Elder in Residence, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta

This CBRCanada webinar and live discussion is part of our fall series: Celebrating Community-Based Research Excellence. In this series we will highlight examples of excellent Community-Based Research by spotlighting the previous winners of CBRCanada awards.

This event will take place in Zoom meeting format. A zoom link* will be sent out by email prior to the event via eventbrite. If you do not receive the link, access will also be available on the eventbrite platform. Use the email you registered with to login. For questions, please email amanda@communitybasedresearch.ca in advance of the event.

We hope to see you there!

The CBRCanada Team

Bios:

Dr Richard Oster, PhD, is Scientific Director of the Indigenous Wellness Core of Alberta Health Services, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at both the University of Alberta and University of Calgary. Dr Oster is immersed in Indigenous health and his academic research program is specifically related to perinatal health. Dr Oster's research takes a strengths-based and partnership approach, building specifically on Indigenous ways of knowing and the resilience and strength within communities, as opposed to using a deficit-focused western lens which tends to dominate the field.

Mosom Rick Lightning is an Elder, cultural leader, and previous member of Chief & Council for Ermineskin Cree Nation. He worked for 10 years as a mental health therapist in his home community, and has worked for 25 years with the United Nations. Currently he works as an Elder in residence for the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, and is a core member of the Maskwacis Maternal, Child & Family Wellbeing Research Group. He also manages and operates Lightning Camp and Associates, focusing on grief recovery, suicide prevention, mediation, Native awareness, staff development, and public speaking, among other ventures.

*This event is intended for CBRCanada members only. If you are employed, studying, or affiliated with any CBRCanada member institution/organization, you are already considered a member. If you are unsure if your institution is covered, learn more here. Individuals whose institution is not on this list are welcome to register as an an individual member. We value community participation and have a free membership option for registered community mobilizers.