Centering Indigenous perspectives: two 2025 reports

Image: Grandmother Laurel-Ba and FLA OHT Team with the Minister of Health, 2022.

September 2025.

We are happy to share two recent reports on Centering Indigenous Perspectives:

REPORT ON UNDERSTANDING MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION 

The most recent report reflects a collaboration of three partners: Queen's University, the Indigenous Health and Wellness Council, and the Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Ontario Health Team (FLA OHT). This work was funded by a grant from Queen’s University’s Catalyst Fund and guided by the principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) in ethical community-based Indigenous health research. The Project Team of 19 members was led by Dr. Amrita Roy and conducted analyses of these three aspects:

• FLA OHT documents: 197 files, dated from February 2021 to January 2023 and reflecting a range of strategic and operational content, were reviewed for Indigenous perspectives. 
• Indigenous members interviews: were conducted from May to July 2023 with 8 (out of 16) Indigenous members who were invited from FLA OHT working groups and tables - including 7 out of 9 current members and 1 out of 7 past members. Interviews aimed to identify and describe barriers, enablers, and ways forward, with respect to advancing meaningful collaboration between Indigenous communities and the FLA OHT.
  
• FLA OHT leadership focus groups: were conducted with 16 members of FLA OHT leadership. Focus groups were held June 20, 2024 and also aimed to identify and describe barriers, enablers, and ways forward, to advancing collaboration between Indigenous communities and the FLA OHT.

The results of these analyses point to five major themes on how to move forward in improving collaboration. Building strong relationships with Indigenous peoples was identified as essential; as one participant stated, "Where we have those relationships and they’re thriving, that’s where really great work is happening."

DOWNLOAD Centering Indigenous perspectives and priorities in a Learning Health System: a case study of the new Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Ontario Health Team (August 2025): Results-in-brief (8 pages); The full report (62 pages)

REPORT ON ADVANCING INDIGENOUS HEALTH EQUITY 

Another report released in May 2025 and authored by the FLA OHT outlines the initiatives and actions taken since the FLA OHT’s inception in late 2020 up to March 31, 2025 to strengthen relationships and support OHT partners in centering Indigenous perspectives and priorities. This report focuses on these key FLA OHT initiatives:

• Relationship building & ongoing engagement
• Indigenous cultural awareness and training
• Advocacy efforts
• Program & service enhancements
• Communication & storytelling

DOWNLOAD FLA OHT Efforts Toward Advancing Indigenous Health Equity & Centering Indigenous Perspectives and Priorities (May 2025, 14 pages):  The full report: