Dr. Robyn K. Rowe holds a Masters degree in Indigenous Relations and a PhD in rural and northern health. She is the Indigenous Data Team Lead for Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN), a staff scientist at ICES Central (previously the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences), and a sessional professor at Laurentian University in the School of Indigenous Relations. She is a mother of four and an active advocate for Indigenous data sovereignty and governance in Canada and around the world. Supervisors: Dr. Jennifer D. Walker
International Journal for Population Data Science, Dec 7, 2020
IntroductionThe increasing accessibility of data through digitization and linkage has resulted in... more IntroductionThe increasing accessibility of data through digitization and linkage has resulted in Indigenous and allied individuals, scholars, practitioners, and data users recognizing a need to advance ways that assert Indigenous sovereignty and governance within data environments. Advances are being talked about around the world for how Indigenous data is collected, used, stored, shared, linked, and analysed. Objectives and ApproachDuring the International Population Data Linkage Network Conference in September of 2018, two sessions were hosted and led by international collaborators that focused on regional Indigenous health data linkage. Notes, discussions, and artistic contributions gathered from the conference led to collaborative efforts to highlight the common approaches to Indigenous data linkage, as discussed internationally. This presentation will share the braided culmination of these discussions and offer S.E.E.D.S as a set of guiding Indigenous data linkage principles. ResultsS.E.E.D.S emerges as a living and expanding set of guiding principles that: 1) prioritizes Indigenous Peoples’ right to Self-determination; 2) makes space for Indigenous Peoples to Exercise sovereignty; 3) adheres to Ethical protocols; 4) acknowledges and respects Data stewardship and governance, and; 5) works to Support reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and settler states. S.E.E.D.S aims to centre and advance Indigenous-driven population data linkage and research while weaving together common global approaches to Indigenous data linkage. Conclusion / ImplicationsEach of the five elements of S.E.E.D.S interweave and need to be enacted together to create a positive Indigenous data linkage environment. When implemented together, the primary goals of the S.E.E.D.S Principles is to guide positive Indigenous population health data linkage in an effort to create more meaningful research approaches through improved Indigenous-based research processes. The implementation of these principles can, in turn, lead to better measurements of health progress that are critical to enhancing health care policy and improving health and wellness outcomes for Indigenous populations.
Background Access to culturally-safe dementia assessment, diagnosis, and care in Indigenous popul... more Background Access to culturally-safe dementia assessment, diagnosis, and care in Indigenous populations worldwide is an emerging challenge. In 2018, the World Health Organization recognized traditional healers as stakeholders in dementia care and prevention globally. Traditional healers contribute to dementia assessment, diagnosis, and care in unique ways, and play a catalytic role in the process of culturally-safe dementia care planning and assessment with health care providers at the community level. The purpose of this scoping review was to understand the roles and experiences of traditional healers, to evaluate strategies for integration between Indigenous traditional healing and western dementia care approaches, and to examine the policy barriers and research gaps in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Method The scoping review methodology used was the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) approach that included six steps: protocol development based on participants, content and context framework, development of a search strategy, selection of relevant studies, charting of relevant data, synthesis, and reporting of results, and conducting stakeholder consultation. Result Searched English literature in select bibliographic databases, including CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline and PsycINFO. The initial search identified 516 papers published between 2000 and 2020 that met the search criteria. After 164 duplicates were removed, we screened 352 titles and abstracts, excluding the 209 that did not meet the inclusion criteria. The second stage review of 143 full-text studies resulted in the further exclusion of 141 studies. Only two studies from Canada met all inclusion criteria for this study and explored the potential integration of traditional healing in dementia care and the roles, perceptions, and experiences of traditional healers. Conclusion This study emphasizes the inclusion of traditional healers, knowledge-holders, and Grandmother groups that can contribute to building an evidence-based dementia care decision-making process for Indigenous people with dementia. Integration of Indigenous traditional healing and medicine in dementia care is a path to culturally-safe dementia care and assessment. diagnosis. The study has policy implications for healthcare provider education and advocacy needs to engage with traditional healers in dementia care. It recommends two community-based models to establish culturally-safe dementia care between traditional healers and healthcare providers in a seamless collaboration.
In this scoping review we aim to explore approaches to the integration of traditional healing and... more In this scoping review we aim to explore approaches to the integration of traditional healing and medicine in dementia care for Indigenous communities in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. We aim to understand the roles and experiences of traditional healers, strategies and their evaluation, and the barriers and opportunities for integration of Indigenous and western dementia care approaches. Introduction: Access to culturally safe geriatric care and dementia assessment, diagnosis, and care in Indigenous populations worldwide is an emerging challenge. The World Health Organization recognizes traditional healers as stakeholders in dementia care. Traditional healers can provide dementia assessment and care in unique ways and play a catalytic role in the process of dementia care planning. This scoping review will inform Indigenous health service providers about the potential integration of traditional healing and medicine into dementia care and support systems. Inclusion criteria: This review will include all types of study designs, that examine the integration of Indigenous approaches and traditional healers in dementia care in Indigenous communities in North America (Canada and U.S.), Australia and New Zealand.
Indigenous Peoples' right to sovereignty forms the foundation for advocacy and actions toward... more Indigenous Peoples' right to sovereignty forms the foundation for advocacy and actions toward greater Indigenous self-determination and control across a range of domains that impact Indigenous Peoples' communities and cultures. Declarations for sovereignty are rising throughout Indigenous communities and across diverse fields, including Network Sovereignty, Food Sovereignty, Energy Sovereignty, and Data Sovereignty. Indigenous Research Sovereignty draws in the sovereignty discourse of these initiatives to consider their applications to the broader research ecosystem. Our exploration of Indigenous Research Sovereignty, or Indigenous self-determination in the context of research activities, has been focused on the relationship between Indigenous Data Sovereignty and efforts to describe Indigenous Peoples' Rights in data.
Global disease trackers quantifying the size, spread, and distribution of COVID-19 illustrate the... more Global disease trackers quantifying the size, spread, and distribution of COVID-19 illustrate the power of data during the pandemic. Data are required for decision-making, planning, mitigation, surveillance, and monitoring the equity of responses. There are dual concerns about the availability and suppression of COVID-19 data; due to historic and ongoing racism and exclusion, publicly available data can be both beneficial and harmful. Systemic policies related to genocide and racism, and historic and ongoing marginalization, have led to limitations in quality, quantity, access, and use of Indigenous Peoples' COVID-19 data. Governments, non-profits, researchers, and other institutions must collaborate with Indigenous Peoples on their own terms to improve access to and use of data for effective public health responses to COVID-19.
Through an in-depth examination and review of the traumatic impact of colonialism and oppression ... more Through an in-depth examination and review of the traumatic impact of colonialism and oppression faced by Aboriginal peoples, trends being to appear within the literature. These trends include the intergenerational cycles that foster negative outcomes for Aboriginal Peoples, specifically for those who were forced to endure the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and sexual abuse within the Residential school system. The survivors of this era experience lifelong trauma which is then passed on through the generations to their children, grand-children, great grand-children etc. The numbers of Aboriginal students attending University level, higher education are increasingly low and the research has indicated that this is, in large part, due to the impact of the residential school system and the outlook that Aboriginal Peoples now have towards the education system. Factors of resiliency both positive and negative are described throughout. Positive resiliency, from a western perspectiv...
International Journal of Population Data Science, 2021
Introduction Globally, the ways that Indigenous data are collected, used, stored, shared, and ana... more Introduction Globally, the ways that Indigenous data are collected, used, stored, shared, and analyzed are advancing through Indigenous data governance movements. However, these discussions do not always include the increasingly sensitive nature of linking Indigenous population health (IPH) data. During the International Population Data Linkage Network Conference in September of 2018, Indigenous people from three countries (Canada, New Zealand, and the United States) gathered and set the tone for discussions around Indigenous-driven IPH data linkage. Objectives Centering IPH data linkage and research priorities at the conference led to budding discussions from diverse Indigenous populations to share and build on current IPH data linkage themes. This paper provides a braided summary of those discussions which resulted in the SEEDS principles for use when linking IPH data. Methods During the Conference, two sessions and a keynote were Indigenous-led and hosted by international collabo...
International Journal for Population Data Science, Dec 7, 2020
IntroductionThe increasing accessibility of data through digitization and linkage has resulted in... more IntroductionThe increasing accessibility of data through digitization and linkage has resulted in Indigenous and allied individuals, scholars, practitioners, and data users recognizing a need to advance ways that assert Indigenous sovereignty and governance within data environments. Advances are being talked about around the world for how Indigenous data is collected, used, stored, shared, linked, and analysed. Objectives and ApproachDuring the International Population Data Linkage Network Conference in September of 2018, two sessions were hosted and led by international collaborators that focused on regional Indigenous health data linkage. Notes, discussions, and artistic contributions gathered from the conference led to collaborative efforts to highlight the common approaches to Indigenous data linkage, as discussed internationally. This presentation will share the braided culmination of these discussions and offer S.E.E.D.S as a set of guiding Indigenous data linkage principles. ResultsS.E.E.D.S emerges as a living and expanding set of guiding principles that: 1) prioritizes Indigenous Peoples’ right to Self-determination; 2) makes space for Indigenous Peoples to Exercise sovereignty; 3) adheres to Ethical protocols; 4) acknowledges and respects Data stewardship and governance, and; 5) works to Support reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and settler states. S.E.E.D.S aims to centre and advance Indigenous-driven population data linkage and research while weaving together common global approaches to Indigenous data linkage. Conclusion / ImplicationsEach of the five elements of S.E.E.D.S interweave and need to be enacted together to create a positive Indigenous data linkage environment. When implemented together, the primary goals of the S.E.E.D.S Principles is to guide positive Indigenous population health data linkage in an effort to create more meaningful research approaches through improved Indigenous-based research processes. The implementation of these principles can, in turn, lead to better measurements of health progress that are critical to enhancing health care policy and improving health and wellness outcomes for Indigenous populations.
Background Access to culturally-safe dementia assessment, diagnosis, and care in Indigenous popul... more Background Access to culturally-safe dementia assessment, diagnosis, and care in Indigenous populations worldwide is an emerging challenge. In 2018, the World Health Organization recognized traditional healers as stakeholders in dementia care and prevention globally. Traditional healers contribute to dementia assessment, diagnosis, and care in unique ways, and play a catalytic role in the process of culturally-safe dementia care planning and assessment with health care providers at the community level. The purpose of this scoping review was to understand the roles and experiences of traditional healers, to evaluate strategies for integration between Indigenous traditional healing and western dementia care approaches, and to examine the policy barriers and research gaps in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Method The scoping review methodology used was the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) approach that included six steps: protocol development based on participants, content and context framework, development of a search strategy, selection of relevant studies, charting of relevant data, synthesis, and reporting of results, and conducting stakeholder consultation. Result Searched English literature in select bibliographic databases, including CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline and PsycINFO. The initial search identified 516 papers published between 2000 and 2020 that met the search criteria. After 164 duplicates were removed, we screened 352 titles and abstracts, excluding the 209 that did not meet the inclusion criteria. The second stage review of 143 full-text studies resulted in the further exclusion of 141 studies. Only two studies from Canada met all inclusion criteria for this study and explored the potential integration of traditional healing in dementia care and the roles, perceptions, and experiences of traditional healers. Conclusion This study emphasizes the inclusion of traditional healers, knowledge-holders, and Grandmother groups that can contribute to building an evidence-based dementia care decision-making process for Indigenous people with dementia. Integration of Indigenous traditional healing and medicine in dementia care is a path to culturally-safe dementia care and assessment. diagnosis. The study has policy implications for healthcare provider education and advocacy needs to engage with traditional healers in dementia care. It recommends two community-based models to establish culturally-safe dementia care between traditional healers and healthcare providers in a seamless collaboration.
In this scoping review we aim to explore approaches to the integration of traditional healing and... more In this scoping review we aim to explore approaches to the integration of traditional healing and medicine in dementia care for Indigenous communities in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. We aim to understand the roles and experiences of traditional healers, strategies and their evaluation, and the barriers and opportunities for integration of Indigenous and western dementia care approaches. Introduction: Access to culturally safe geriatric care and dementia assessment, diagnosis, and care in Indigenous populations worldwide is an emerging challenge. The World Health Organization recognizes traditional healers as stakeholders in dementia care. Traditional healers can provide dementia assessment and care in unique ways and play a catalytic role in the process of dementia care planning. This scoping review will inform Indigenous health service providers about the potential integration of traditional healing and medicine into dementia care and support systems. Inclusion criteria: This review will include all types of study designs, that examine the integration of Indigenous approaches and traditional healers in dementia care in Indigenous communities in North America (Canada and U.S.), Australia and New Zealand.
Indigenous Peoples' right to sovereignty forms the foundation for advocacy and actions toward... more Indigenous Peoples' right to sovereignty forms the foundation for advocacy and actions toward greater Indigenous self-determination and control across a range of domains that impact Indigenous Peoples' communities and cultures. Declarations for sovereignty are rising throughout Indigenous communities and across diverse fields, including Network Sovereignty, Food Sovereignty, Energy Sovereignty, and Data Sovereignty. Indigenous Research Sovereignty draws in the sovereignty discourse of these initiatives to consider their applications to the broader research ecosystem. Our exploration of Indigenous Research Sovereignty, or Indigenous self-determination in the context of research activities, has been focused on the relationship between Indigenous Data Sovereignty and efforts to describe Indigenous Peoples' Rights in data.
Global disease trackers quantifying the size, spread, and distribution of COVID-19 illustrate the... more Global disease trackers quantifying the size, spread, and distribution of COVID-19 illustrate the power of data during the pandemic. Data are required for decision-making, planning, mitigation, surveillance, and monitoring the equity of responses. There are dual concerns about the availability and suppression of COVID-19 data; due to historic and ongoing racism and exclusion, publicly available data can be both beneficial and harmful. Systemic policies related to genocide and racism, and historic and ongoing marginalization, have led to limitations in quality, quantity, access, and use of Indigenous Peoples' COVID-19 data. Governments, non-profits, researchers, and other institutions must collaborate with Indigenous Peoples on their own terms to improve access to and use of data for effective public health responses to COVID-19.
Through an in-depth examination and review of the traumatic impact of colonialism and oppression ... more Through an in-depth examination and review of the traumatic impact of colonialism and oppression faced by Aboriginal peoples, trends being to appear within the literature. These trends include the intergenerational cycles that foster negative outcomes for Aboriginal Peoples, specifically for those who were forced to endure the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and sexual abuse within the Residential school system. The survivors of this era experience lifelong trauma which is then passed on through the generations to their children, grand-children, great grand-children etc. The numbers of Aboriginal students attending University level, higher education are increasingly low and the research has indicated that this is, in large part, due to the impact of the residential school system and the outlook that Aboriginal Peoples now have towards the education system. Factors of resiliency both positive and negative are described throughout. Positive resiliency, from a western perspectiv...
International Journal of Population Data Science, 2021
Introduction Globally, the ways that Indigenous data are collected, used, stored, shared, and ana... more Introduction Globally, the ways that Indigenous data are collected, used, stored, shared, and analyzed are advancing through Indigenous data governance movements. However, these discussions do not always include the increasingly sensitive nature of linking Indigenous population health (IPH) data. During the International Population Data Linkage Network Conference in September of 2018, Indigenous people from three countries (Canada, New Zealand, and the United States) gathered and set the tone for discussions around Indigenous-driven IPH data linkage. Objectives Centering IPH data linkage and research priorities at the conference led to budding discussions from diverse Indigenous populations to share and build on current IPH data linkage themes. This paper provides a braided summary of those discussions which resulted in the SEEDS principles for use when linking IPH data. Methods During the Conference, two sessions and a keynote were Indigenous-led and hosted by international collabo...
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