Discussion Space 6E: Conversations on Culture: Context, Relevance and Respectful Approaches
Tracks
Track 5
| Friday, October 9, 2026 |
| 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM |
| Discussion Space/Exhibition Room (Meridian) |
Details
Current interconnected structures, systems of power, and bias originating in colonization continue to impact experiences in healthcare for everyone, and especially for Indigenous People in many places and spaces around the world. In the context of global hepatitis elimination, the incidence disparity for Indigenous populations often becomes a focus, yet this focus often leaves behind consideration of colonial contexts as a barrier to receiving care and disregards the facilitating roles culture, language and community can play in the care experience. Facilitators bring varied personal experience and diversity from an Indigenous worldview that includes lived experience with hepatitis C, substance use, nursing care, political advocacy, knowledge mobilization and community engagement. Creating a brave space for conversation, reflection, knowledge exchange, and learning together the facilitators will share personal experience vignettes, create space for reflection, facilitate case study discussion, and conclude with inspirational examples of respectful advocacy and engagement.
Speaker
Dr Kate Dunn
Assistant Professor
York University
Conversations on Culture: Context, Relevance and Respectful Approaches
11:45 AM - 1:15 PMBiography
Dr. Kate Dunn brings a background in nursing, public health and social sciences to her role at York University and relational research engaging in wellness-based approaches to liver health and hepatitis C with Indigenous Communities in Canada.
Ms Ciara Eizadirad
Trainee
York University
Conversations on Culture: Context, Relevance and Respectful Approaches
11:45 AM - 1:15 PMBiography
Ciara is a Sto:lo Nation member from Chawathil First Nations Band in British Columbia on her mothers side and Cree-Ojibway from Treaty 3 in Northern Ontario on her fathers side. She is completing her Bachelor of Science in Global Health at York University this year and starting her Master's of Public Health at University of British Columbia this Fall 2026. Ciara has a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Public Health from the University of British Columbia in the Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Health. Mrs. Eizadirad has over 8 years of working in Indigenous Health in an administrative capacity. She is a jingle-dress and fancy shawl dancer in the pow-wow circle and ensures she stays connected to her rich cultures of being Sto:lo, Cree, Ojibway. She also has Lakota teachings from her families choice to practice the Lakota ceremonies.
Emmett Lockwood
Graduate Student
York University
Conversations on Culture: Context, Relevance and Respectful Approaches
11:45 AM - 1:15 PMBiography
Emmett Lockwood (he/they/wiya) is a PhD student in Critical Disability Studies at York University and a mixed Irish, British, Scottish and Pimicikamak Cree scholar. Emmett is a graduate research assistant the Mobilizing Indigenous Narratives and Outlooks (MINO) Lab at York University where he works with Dr. Kate Dunn. Emmett's research interest is around how critical disability studies frameworks of debility and the viral underclass can be utilized in community towards creating more decolonial, relational, and indigenous-futurism based understandings and pathways to care around HCV and HIV.
Ms Rachel Montour
Peer Outreach Worker
Six Nations
Conversations on Culture: Context, Relevance and Respectful Approaches
11:45 AM - 1:15 PMBiography
INHSU 2026
Questions & Discussion
1:00 PM - 1:15 PMBiography
