The goal of the Inuit Perinatal Health Hub is to increase the socio-health outcomes for Inuit women, children and families in the Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. The Hub aims to impact local, regional and/or national healthcare practices, policies and programs and provide direct support and socio-health information and resources to families in the Kivalliq Region, Nunavut. Inuit-designed and developed perinatal resources to support women and families are much needed. The Hub is working closely with Inuit women, community members and organizations, and Community Health Representatives to build these resources. The Hub also aims to engage Inuit youth and Elders and support intergenerational transmission of knowledge. Through ongoing collaboration, the Hub aims to build in approaches to ensure our work is both highly useful and sustainable to support families.
What do you wish people knew about the topic you are working on?
Close to 80% if Inuit women in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut are required to travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba to give birth. This experience can be highly stressful, alienating, and it can involve a range of barriers to the wellness of women and their children. Currently, there is limited access and availability of perinatal support for families in Nunavut. Additional socio-health and cultural supports provided before, during and following birth in Nunavut are needed.
Community partners and their role in the Hub
Inuit Women’s Advisory Group made up of Inuit women, Elders, youth, health care advocates, and Inuit representatives from Nunavut to co-develop materials and resources.
The work of the the Inuit Perinatal Hub is primarily based in Nunavut, activities are developed with and managed by Inuit, and learning and outcomes will be owned by Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre (QHRC), a Nunavummiut-developed non-profit health research institute.
The Uquutaq Medical Boarding Home in Winnipeg has been engaged to support the development, testing and evaluation of resources, and participate in the recruitment and hosting of perinatal workshops.
Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society supports the work of the Hub to ensure products produced are accessible to those with disabilities.
Aqqiumavvik Arviat Wellness Society provides programming specifically designed to support pregnant women and has worked with the Hub since before its creation.
Manitoba Inuit Association supports Inuit women and families in Winnipeg and works with the Women’s Health Clinic to support Inuit women during the perinatal period.
Independent medical and health practitioners in Winnipeg.
Inuit post secondary students and community members, leaders, and academics are working closely on this project.
How would you describe the objective(s) of your Hub in the simplest terms?
The objectives of the Inuit Perinatal Health Hub are:
1) To mobilize, adapt and scale-up newly generated and existing knowledge and models of care into Inuit-specific, gender-sensitive, accessible and culturally relevant women’s health resources designed with, by and for Inuit women, and
2) To maximize health research impact within and beyond the Hub to customize, tailor and integrate evidence into health policies, decision making, and planning regarding Inuit women’s health.
Learn more about the Hub’s work
Dr. Johnston’s collaborative research website will be published on www.arcticwellness.ca (coming soon). Videos will also be shared on Inuktitube: https://inuktitube.com/.
We also encourage people to visit our collaborator’s websites: Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre: https://www.qhrc.ca/; Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society: https://nuability.ca/; Aqqiumavvik Arviat Wellness Society: https://www.aqqiumavvik.com/; Manitoba Inuit Association https://www.manitobainuit.ca/
Contact information
The Inuit Perinatal health Hub can be reached at [email protected]; and/or Dr. Johnston can be reached at [email protected].
Lead investigators involved
Nancy Mike (Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre (QHRC) (PI) and Dr. Patricia Johnston (University of Calgary) (NPA), alongside support from Manitoba Inuit Association, Aqqiumavvik Arviat Wellness Society, and Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society (NDMS).
Led by Elders: Maata Tagaaq Evaluardjuk Palmer and Levinia Brown.
Co-investigators include Prof. Gail Baikie, Dr. Kangsoo Kim, Dr.Wendy Hooper (MD), Dr. Marie Jones (MD), Dr. Zoua Vang, Dr. Josee Lavoie, Dr. Kathleen Kenny, Judy Clark, Dr. Jo-Anne James (MD)
Collaborators include: Shirley Tagalik, Kukik Baker, Dr. Sonia Butalia (MD), Romani Makkik
Additional support for Hub is provided by researchers Rosanna Amarudjuak, Nadine Alareak, Julie-Anne Mauno, Mary Ann Forbes, Jessica McGuigan, Joanna Galasso, Nikki Mulvihill, Robyn Long, Tara Collins, Tavia McKinnon, Ariel Voisey, Ahmad Fouad, Omar Khan, Anh Nguyen, Maani Brown
Community Health Representatives (Government Nunavut), and Nunavut Community Leaders collaborating with the Hub include: Jo-Anna Quinangnaq, Lydia Mukjungnik, Donna Anawak-Tatty, Nancy Aqqaq, Belinda Jean Uguk, Rachel Kaludjak
Youth Coalition Committee from John Arnalukjuak High School (Arviat) and Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik School (Kangiqtiniq) in Nunavut (six members)
See the following website for team details: http://arcticwellness.ca
Lead investigator social media handles
Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qaujigiartiit
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qaujigiartiit/
