First Nations Community Well-Being Research and Large Data Sets: A Respectful Caution

• Published in: International Journal of Indigenous Health
• Main Authors: Drawson, Alexandra S., Mushquash, Aislin R., Mushquash, Christopher J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health 2017
• Subjects: Canada; First Nations
• Online Access: https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/ijih/article/view/17782; https://doi.org/10.18357/ijih122201717782

Health researchers are increasingly encouraged to use large, community-level data sets to examine factors that promote or diminish health, including social determinants. First Nations people in Canada experience disparity in a range of social determinants of health that result in relatively low community well-being scores, when compared to non-First Nations people. However, First Nations people also possess unique protective factors that enhance well-being, such as traditional language usage. Large data sets offer First Nations a new avenue for advocating for supports and services to decrease health inequity while developing culture-based evidence. However, care must be taken to ensure that these data are interpreted appropriately. In this paper, we respectfully offer a cautionary note on the importance of understanding culture and context when conducting First Nations health research with large data sets. We have framed this caution through a narrative presentation of a simple and concrete example. We then outline some approaches to research that can ensure appropriate development of research questions and interpretation of research findings.