A Nokomis Story: Co-Creating A Caring Space For Indigenous Elders

Event Date: November 18th, 2021

From an Indigenous perspective, aging was always considered to be part of the cycle of life. One understood their journey and knew what to expect. Who would support them, how they would be buried, and the ceremonies that would be done on their behalf? It is even more important to understand how Indigenous peoples perceive aging to accommodate their health, healing, and wellness needs in today's complex healthcare environment. This session will highlight key concepts related to this objective and provide an opportunity for caregivers to participate in a dialogue that will illuminate key social, historical, and cultural factors related to culturally safe geriatric care for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Dr. Anthony Levinson

Neuropsychiatrist, Director, Division of e-Learning Innovation, McMaster University

At the Division of e-Learning Innovation, Dr. Levinson exercises his passion for researching and developing online solutions to deliver high-quality health educational experiences to both the public and health care professionals. iGeriCare provides a unique opportunity to leverage his expertise in mental health and learning technologies to create a modern and engaging approach to dementia education.

Dr. Bernice Downey (kwe/she/her)

RN, BScN (University of Ottawa), Masters - Anthropology & Health (McMaster), PhD - Anthropology & Health (McMaster) Post-Doc - Graduate Studies at McMaster

Dr. Bernice Downey is an Anishinaabe-kwe (Indigenous woman) of Ojibwe - Saulteaux and Celtic heritage, a mother and a grandmother. She is a former nurse, a medical anthropologist and is currently cross-appointed with the Department of Psychiatry and Neuro-Behavioural Sciences & the School of Nursing in the Faculty of Health Science at McMaster University. She is also recently appointed as the inaugural Associate Dean, Indigenous Health for the Faculty of Health Sciences. Her research interests include health literacy and Indigenous Traditional knowledge and health/research system reform for Indigenous populations. She currently holds a Heart & Stroke Foundation - Canadian Institute of Health Research - Chair in Indigenous Women’s Heart and Brain Health. She is committed to addressing anti-Indigenous racism and the promotion of Indigenous self-determining approaches in health equity and system reform.