First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Women's Experiences of Cancer Survivorship: Protocol for the National Picture Project

Abstract

Little is known about First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) women's experiences with cancer, including how they relate to cultural and social factors such as geography, history, racism, identity, traditional values/practices, and spirituality. Research into FNIM women's strengths and challenges in relation to cancer is much needed. Our team, in partnership with Saint Elizabeth Health, is documenting the experiences and needs of 60 FNIM cancer survivors across Canada, using sharing sessions, photography (photovoice), journaling, and film. We will evaluate the impact of photography and journaling on the participants to assist with the future development of supportive programs and health-care delivery. This innovative research will result in a video, which will address gaps in knowledge and care. The video will then be screened in several communities and will be publicly available. In future projects, the findings and video will be used in supportive programs for cancer survivors and in educational initiatives for health professionals.

Cycles of silence: First Nations women overcoming social and historical barriers in supportive cancer care

“…Elsewhere, we have outlined our research protocol in detail . Briefly, our methodology draws upon participatory research paradigms together with arts‐based methods, both of which prioritize participants' knowledge with the aim of effecting transformational objectives in policy and practice.…”

Providing culturally safe cancer survivorship care with Indigenous communities: study protocol for an integrated knowledge translation study

“…Indigenous peoples continue to endure poorer health from a long legacy of marginalization within North America. Metaphorically referred to as “falling through the cracks” [18], little has been done to address the unique survivorship needs of Indigenous people and few supports have considered the intersections of culture, history, and marginalization.…”

Using Photovoice as Methodology, Pedagogy and Assessment Tool in Education: Graduate Students’ Experiences and Reflections

“…Baker & Wang, 2006;Killion & Wang, 1999;Kroeger et al, 2004;Strack & Magill, 2004;Wang & Pies, 2004;Wang et al, 1998;Wang, Yuan, & Feng, 1996;Wilson et al, 2007). Researchers employing photovoice have demonstrated the utility of group discussion among homeless people (Dixon & Hadjialexiou, 2005;Wang, Cash, & Powers, 2000), lower income urban youth , older U.S. women living with hiv/aids (Gosselink & Myllykangas, 2007), Canadian indigenous women's experience with cancer (Thomas et al, 2015), marginalized people in a rural town in South Africa (Harley, 2012). Photovoice has a potential to empower participants by giving voice to traditionally stigmatized, marginalized, and discriminated groups (Palys & Atchison, 2012;Thomas et al, 2015).…”

“…Researchers employing photovoice have demonstrated the utility of group discussion among homeless people (Dixon & Hadjialexiou, 2005;Wang, Cash, & Powers, 2000), lower income urban youth , older U.S. women living with hiv/aids (Gosselink & Myllykangas, 2007), Canadian indigenous women's experience with cancer (Thomas et al, 2015), marginalized people in a rural town in South Africa (Harley, 2012). Photovoice has a potential to empower participants by giving voice to traditionally stigmatized, marginalized, and discriminated groups (Palys & Atchison, 2012;Thomas et al, 2015). Moreover, "photovoice can yield fascinating empirical data and provide unique insights into diverse phenomena, as well as empowering and emancipating participants by making their experiences visible" (Oliffe & Bottorff, 2007, p. 850).…”