A guiding framework for needs assessment evaluations to embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities
Introduction In community-based research projects, needs assessments are one of the first steps to identify community priorities. Access-related issues often pose significant barriers to participation in research and evaluation for rural and remote communities, particularly Indigenous communities, w...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279282 https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279282 |
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crplos:10.1371/journal.pone.0279282 2024-06-23T07:57:03+00:00 A guiding framework for needs assessment evaluations to embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities Bhawra, Jasmin Buchan, M. Claire Green, Brenda Skinner, Kelly Katapally, Tarun Reddy Shepherd, Stephane Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279282 https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279282 en eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ PLOS ONE volume 17, issue 12, page e0279282 ISSN 1932-6203 journal-article 2022 crplos https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279282 2024-06-11T04:25:30Z Introduction In community-based research projects, needs assessments are one of the first steps to identify community priorities. Access-related issues often pose significant barriers to participation in research and evaluation for rural and remote communities, particularly Indigenous communities, which also have a complex relationship with academia due to a history of exploitation. To bridge this gap, work with Indigenous communities requires consistent and meaningful engagement. The prominence of digital devices (i.e., smartphones) offers an unparalleled opportunity for ethical and equitable engagement between researchers and communities across jurisdictions, particularly in remote communities. Methods This paper presents a framework to guide needs assessments which embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities. Guided by this framework, a qualitative needs assessment was conducted with a subarctic Métis community in Saskatchewan, Canada. This project is governed by an Advisory Council comprised of Knowledge Keepers, Elders, and youth in the community. An environmental scan of relevant programs, three key informant interviews, and two focus groups (n = 4 in each) were conducted to systematically identify community priorities. Results Through discussions with the community, four priorities were identified: (1) the Coronavirus pandemic, (2) climate change impacts on the environment, (3) mental health and wellbeing, and (4) food security and sovereignty. Given the timing of the needs assessment, the community identified the Coronavirus pandemic as a key priority requiring digital initiatives. Conclusion Recommendations for community-based needs assessments to conceptualize and implement digital infrastructure are put forward, with an emphasis on self-governance and data sovereignty. Article in Journal/Newspaper Subarctic PLOS Canada PLOS ONE 17 12 e0279282 |
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Introduction In community-based research projects, needs assessments are one of the first steps to identify community priorities. Access-related issues often pose significant barriers to participation in research and evaluation for rural and remote communities, particularly Indigenous communities, which also have a complex relationship with academia due to a history of exploitation. To bridge this gap, work with Indigenous communities requires consistent and meaningful engagement. The prominence of digital devices (i.e., smartphones) offers an unparalleled opportunity for ethical and equitable engagement between researchers and communities across jurisdictions, particularly in remote communities. Methods This paper presents a framework to guide needs assessments which embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities. Guided by this framework, a qualitative needs assessment was conducted with a subarctic Métis community in Saskatchewan, Canada. This project is governed by an Advisory Council comprised of Knowledge Keepers, Elders, and youth in the community. An environmental scan of relevant programs, three key informant interviews, and two focus groups (n = 4 in each) were conducted to systematically identify community priorities. Results Through discussions with the community, four priorities were identified: (1) the Coronavirus pandemic, (2) climate change impacts on the environment, (3) mental health and wellbeing, and (4) food security and sovereignty. Given the timing of the needs assessment, the community identified the Coronavirus pandemic as a key priority requiring digital initiatives. Conclusion Recommendations for community-based needs assessments to conceptualize and implement digital infrastructure are put forward, with an emphasis on self-governance and data sovereignty. |
author2 |
Shepherd, Stephane Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bhawra, Jasmin Buchan, M. Claire Green, Brenda Skinner, Kelly Katapally, Tarun Reddy |
spellingShingle |
Bhawra, Jasmin Buchan, M. Claire Green, Brenda Skinner, Kelly Katapally, Tarun Reddy A guiding framework for needs assessment evaluations to embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities |
author_facet |
Bhawra, Jasmin Buchan, M. Claire Green, Brenda Skinner, Kelly Katapally, Tarun Reddy |
author_sort |
Bhawra, Jasmin |
title |
A guiding framework for needs assessment evaluations to embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities |
title_short |
A guiding framework for needs assessment evaluations to embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities |
title_full |
A guiding framework for needs assessment evaluations to embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities |
title_fullStr |
A guiding framework for needs assessment evaluations to embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities |
title_full_unstemmed |
A guiding framework for needs assessment evaluations to embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities |
title_sort |
guiding framework for needs assessment evaluations to embed digital platforms in partnership with indigenous communities |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279282 https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279282 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Subarctic |
genre_facet |
Subarctic |
op_source |
PLOS ONE volume 17, issue 12, page e0279282 ISSN 1932-6203 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279282 |
container_title |
PLOS ONE |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
e0279282 |
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1802650498216493056 |