Photo description: Artwork by Norman Achneepineskum, depicting Joe Jacobs traveling with the Teiakonekwenhsatsikhetare wampum belt.
All in-person data collection for FEHNCY is currently on hold to comply with the physical and social distancing recommendations issued by the provincial and federal governments. The FEHNCY team will be conducting remote only data collection and will continue modifying the project methods, timeline, and protocols in collaboration with First Nation partners to adapt to the current circumstances. The mobile clinic component has been postponed until further notice.
This component will focus on developing activities to engage community members and youth, valuing Indigenous knowledge, and developing strong relationships with First Nations communities.
Photo description: Artwork by Norman Achneepineskum, depicting Joe Jacobs traveling with the Teiakonekwenhsatsikhetare wampum belt.
Opening ceremony (informed by Haudenosaunee traditional protocols) to introduce the members of the research team to the community, including the Community Research Team and university researchers.
Community Advisory Circle. Advisory circles will consist of members of the participating First Nation (youth leaders, elders, and other community members). Advisory circles will guide study activities and provide input on recruitment, engagement of youth, community outreach, and data analysis to ensure that the research is being conducted in a good way. We thank Norma Kassi from Old Crow YK who provided Treena and Brittany guidance on CACs when we attended the Seeds of Native Health Conference in 2019.
Teiakonekwenhsatsikhetare (Our blood is sweet) historical wampum bundle. The FEHNCY Team is honored to carry the wampum belt bundle from Joe Jacobs, an elder from Kahnawake. The idea to create the wampum belt came to Joe in a dream. He knew that he must bring the message the belt carried to different Indigenous communities to raise awareness that diabetes can be overcome. As the belt was carried by foot/bike/canoe to Indigenous communities from 1997-2017, the Wampum Belt grew in size, just as awareness grew. In 2019, Treena Delormier (Kahnawake) and Brittany Jock (Akwesasne) discussed how the FEHNCY study can be understood as carrying a message. Treena, who knew Joe from Kahnawake and diabetes prevention, sought his guidance on how the wampum belt could be translated to the FEHNCY study. In response, Joe offered the belt to FEHNCY to carry on the message of ensuring healthy future generations of children. We are carrying on this legacy by bringing this story to communities participating in FEHNCY and continuing to share the message of wellness and collective action to address the needs of First Nations children and youth. Communities will be invited to contribute to the Teiakonekwenhsatsikhetare message by incorporating their wishes for youth health in the bundle. The Wampum Belt is a work of art-in-progress, to which communities participating in FEHNCY can contribute.
Promoting cultural safety. Promoting respectful and partnership approaches for the FEHNCY team in working with Indigenous communities and families.
Closing ceremony (informed by Haudenosaunee traditional protocols) to thank the First Nation for their collaboration, acknowledge the responsibility that we carry in returning results, and use the FEHNCY study results to promote the health and wellness of First Nations youth.