Healthy Smile, Happy Child: partnering with Manitoba First Nations and Metis communities for better early childhood oral health

• Published in: AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples
• Main Authors: Kyoon-Achan, Grace, Schroth, Robert, DeMaré, Daniella, Sturym, Melina, Sanguins, Julianne, Chartrand, Frances, Campbell, Rhonda, Edwards, Jeanette, Lavoie, Josée, Moffatt, Michael
• Other Authors: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2021
• Subjects: History; Anthropology; Cultural Studies; Canada; First Nations; Metis
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/11771801211016873; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/11771801211016873; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.1177/11771801211016873

Indigenous populations in Canada are disproportionately affected by early childhood caries. The Healthy Smile, Happy Child initiative utilizes a community development approach to encourage community uptake of evidence-based early childhood oral health promotion strategies. Sharing circles and focus groups elicited First Nations and Metis (Indigenous peoples of mixed Indigenous-European, primarily French, ancestry) views on the challenges of keeping children caries-free. We share participants’ experiences and viewpoints on implementation research strategies, principles and protocols that are sensitive to Indigenous community-based contexts.