Journal Article

An Indigenous Lens on Priorities for the Canadian Brain Research Strategy

Young, Jennie Z., Ménard, Caroline, Mushquash, Christopher J., Gabel, Chelsea, Lawson, Ashley, De Koninck, Yves, Perreault, Melissa L., Marra, Caterina, King, Malcolm, Illes, Judy

2023

Overview

Introduction The Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS; www.canadianbrain.ca) is a community-driven initiative bringing together over 30 world-leading neuroscience and mental health institutes and programs in the country. In response, the CBRS partnered with Indigenous leaders in Canada who have research interests in brain and mental health to form an Indigenous Knowledge Holders Group (IKHG). [...]cross-cultural neuroethics work by Illes et al.3 with the Tahltan First Nation in northern British Columbia surrounding genetic testing for early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease provided an example of how consideration of traditional knowledge and biomedical explanations of disease can together provide meaningful engagement with brain health care. [...]whereas Western ways of knowing may examine mental health disorders such as addictions and post-traumatic stress from a mechanistic point of view, Indigenous ways of knowing may see mental health issues as symptomatic of spirit injury.4 As authors, we stress the special responsibility of neuroscientists today to attend to the effects of residential schools that have resulted in transgenerational damaging of the spirit.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Brain / Brain research / Canada / Colonialism / Commentary / Humans / Inuit / Knowledge / Mental disorders / Mental health / Native languages / Native North Americans / Neurosciences / Research Design / Researchers