Research summary
Although hepatitis C is the deadliest infectious disease in Canada, it is also the first chronic viral infection to be curable. Yet many First Nation communities face barriers to testing and treatment. These barriers are rooted in the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism. As Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Context and Innovations on Wellbeing, Dr. Kate Dunn’s Indigenous-led research engages First Nations People in relational wellness conversations to understand their lived experiences with hepatitis C care and liver wellness.
Using a Two-Eyed Seeing approach, which combines Indigenous Knowledge and biomedical perspectives, Dunn and her research team are identifying social and structural gaps in care and co-creating culturally connected resources. Their findings will guide equitable, community-driven strategies for testing and treatment and strengthen self-governance and capacity in hepatitis C care. Ultimately, Dunn’s research will contribute to the goal of eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.