Canada Research Chairs
Indigenous communities across Canada face challenges and opportunities when it comes to leveraging digital innovation and managing health and well-being data. As Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Well-Being, Community-Engagement and Innovation, Dr. Chelsea Gabel aims to advance digital innovation in these communities, promote technology use, enhance understanding of Métis health and well-being, and integrate principles of Indigenous data governance and sovereignty into health data systems.
Gabel, who is Red River Métis from Rivers, Manitoba, is using arts-based methods that blend artistic expression with traditional scholarship and emphasizing community-driven research that builds on existing strengths. This methodology is designed to foster trust, give communities ownership of research data, and shift power dynamics toward community members. Ultimately, she and her research team hope to combine community engagement, digital technology, and arts-based research to offer insights into Indigenous health and well-being while supporting self-determination and data sovereignty.