Indigenous knowledge mobilization: reflection on context, content, and relationship

Abstract

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, Indigenous peoples in Canada, have long experienced racism within health services resulting in a health service system that many Indigenous people in Canada do not want to access. Research informing Indigenous health services must consider how findings and analysis happen within the community, what information is shared, and how it improves access to health services. Information shared in Indigenous research methods was communicated at the end and throughout the project. Indigenous knowledge mobilization in Indigenous research methods requires researchers to receive knowledge from the community and research participants. Also, knowledge sharing and moving into practice happen continuously throughout the research process. These qualities of Indigenous knowledge mobilization facilitate increasing accessibility to health services through Indigenous knowledge identified in research. This article describes an Indigenous knowledge mobilization framework that may be adapted within Indigenous communities looking to make transparent how Indigenous knowledge is incorporated within health services.