Structural determinants of Indigenous health and well-being in Quebec: Improving policy and practice pertaining to substance use health and harm reduction

Principal investigator

Mathilde Garneau

Autre chercheur.e principal.e :

Dennis Wendt

Researchers

Amélie Blanchet-Garneau, Myriam Laventure, Stéphanie Marsan, Rossio Motta-Ochoa, Christopher Mushquash, Chantal Plourde

Project status:

Ongoing

Years:

April 2025 - March 2026

Abstract

Indigenous Peoples in Canada have long been concerned with structural determinants of health, especially because of the many ways they have been harmed by settler-colonial policies and violence. At the same time, Indigenous Peoples have also been concerned with strength-based structural determinants, such as community support and cultural connections that support their well-being. This project focuses on how these structural factors affect health behaviors and policies related to substance use health and harm reduction among Indigenous communities in Quebec. Although it is known that Indigenous Peoples face health inequities related to substance use, there has not been enough research focusing on structural determinants pertaining to such. As a result, research often neglects Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. The project builds on existing partnerships to better understand how various policies, barriers, demographic intersections (age, gender, language, region, etc.), and other factors affect substance use health and harm reduction among Indigenous Peoples in Quebec, including among youth. We aim to look beyond just identifying problems and focus on what helps, using a strengths-based approach. To ensure the research is relevant and respectful, we utilize various forms of knowledge sharing in order to shift power to those directly affected by the research. We propose a scoping review of relevant literature, followed by knowledge gathering activities with three Indigenous partners/regions across QC, as well as a knowledge synthesis roundtable gathering in Montreal with partners. Our knowledge synthesis will address ways in which policies, settler colonial structures, and Indigenous strengths shape substance use health. This analysis will also help to provide recommendations for “Indigenizing” harm reduction approaches within Quebec.

Funding Organization:

Instituts de Recherche en Santé du Canada (IRSC) - Subvention catalyseur : Agir en amont : déterminants structurels de la santé