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Indigenous & Global Health Research Group

The Indigenous and Global Health Research Group (IGHRG), led by Dr. Sangita Sharma at the University of Alberta is leading cutting edge culturally-appropriate, community health research by working with and within the Aboriginal and new Canadian communities to change the way healthy living and nutrition information is shared and used.

When programs for patient education, service delivery, and support systems all focus on promoting the patients’ efforts and building the capacity of individuals and families to manage disease effectively, disease control increases, health care costs go down, and family well-being improves. Our team believes it is time to ACT NOW!

“When communities, groups, and neighbourhoods have ownership of programs, success and sustainability follows.”

WHY ACT NOW?

World incidence rates of disease such as cancer, Type II diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease are at an all-time high. Current health policy, screening and education address these conditions and the prevailing risk factors but why is there no reduction in the incidence of disease? What is missing? Who are we missing? What needs to be done? WHY ACT NOW? We need to change this pattern NOW in order to change the future health of Canadians.

Studies show that Aboriginal and new immigrant populations were healthier before they adopted a“Westernized” diet and lifestyle. The communities have the answers for good health based on culture and tradition but current health care is designed for the multitude and not for individual populations. Aboriginal and new immigrant populations need ownership of their future health and are interested in building strength by incorporating cultural beliefs and traditions into healthcare.

“By developing culturally appropriate tools and implementing sustainable interventions, we hope to impact the prevalence of chronic disease.”

Plan, Approach & Philosophy

Our plan is to be the go to place in the world for Aboriginal and new-Immigrant health, nutrition and lifestyle research, and intervention programming to address chronic disease prevention.

Our approach is to work with and within the communities, groups and neighborhoods to empower people to choose, plan and implement their own path to healthy living.

Our philosophy is a bottom up approach, when communities, groups and neighborhoods have ownership of programs, success and sustainability follows.