Patients, their families, and caregivers have unique insights about themselves and what matters when they are receiving health care services. Through their lived experience, patients bring valuable firsthand perspectives to research that help lead to new and better ways of delivering care that will improve the health of all people in Canada.
Today, Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, announced a combined investment of almost $24 million over five years from the Government of Canada, the Government of Northwest Territories (NWT) to support the ongoing work of patient-oriented research in the territory through its SPOR SUPPORT Unit named Hotıı̀ ts'eeda. In the Tłı̨chǫ language, Hotıı̀ ts'eeda refers to peace and well-being in mind, body and spirit, and moving beyond diplomacy to true collaboration so that when we part ways we leave each other in a state of grace.
Throughout the pandemic, Hotıı̀ ts'eeda has helped NWT Indigenous governments and communities create and disseminate culturally safe COVID-19 messaging through various information campaigns. These included culturally relevant posters and messaging in nine NWT Indigenous languages, as well as webinars and online sharing circles with Indigenous Elders and public health leaders. Moving forward, Hotıı̀ ts'eeda continues to make these resources available while focusing its attention on the Ełet'ànı̀ts'eɂah project. Through virtual sharing sessions, the Ełet'ànı̀ts'eɂah project helps NWT communities, partners, policy makers, and health professionals understand how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples applies to and is being implemented in health and wellness programs, services, and research.
The funding is provided as part of Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR), a pan-Canadian initiative dedicated to integrating the voices of patients into research and health care. SPOR is led by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) with support from partners across the country.
