University of Regina
Dr. JoLee Sasakamoose, a proud member of the M'Chigeeng First Nation in Ontario and an active citizen of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, is a distinguished advocate for the well-being of Indigenous peoples, with emphasis on Indigenous women's health and the restoration of families affected by historical trauma. She holds the prestigious CIHR Research Chair in Applied Public Health, Indigenous Wellness and Health Equity. She is a professor and former Chair of the Educational Psychology and Counselling program at the University of Regina's Faculty of Education in Saskatchewan. Dr. Sasakamoose teaches various courses, including group counselling, counselling children and youth, Indigenous family therapies, and decolonizing research methodologies. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine, where she plays a pivotal role in the decolonized training of early career healthcare professionals.
Dr. Sasakamoose is widely recognized for her academic contributions and impact on community engagement, patient care, and collaborative research with First Nations and Métis communities across Saskatchewan. Notably, she articulated the Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory (CRF) in collaboration with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN). This innovative framework, developed with insights from 74 First Nations communities in Saskatchewan, offers a roadmap for addressing health disparities through Indigenous methods. It advocates for the restoration of First Nations health systems and the cultural adaptation of healthcare delivery, promoting reconciliatory approaches that allow Indigenous and Western methodologies to coexist and harmonize.
As the Wellness Research Director of the Natawihowikamik Healing Lodge and Wellness Clinic, Dr. Sasakamoose is leading the creation of the Indigenous Health Innovation Hub at the University of Regina. As a member of the Indigenous Wellness Research Corridor, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, this hub serves as a professional training ground, fostering culturally responsive care by integrating Indigenous ways of knowing with evidence-based strategies through the "two-eyed seeing" approach, which encourages a holistic learning environment.
Her ongoing research, in close collaboration with First Nations and Métis community partners, aims to develop culturally responsive and comprehensive care approaches, addressing the goals and challenges faced by those most affected by health inequities. Over the next six years, her partnerships with these communities will focus on creating a continuum of holistic care and exploring critical questions surrounding Indigenous health and wellness.
Dr. Sasakamoose is committed to confronting the health disparities afflicting First Nations, Métis, and Indigenous Canadians. She works with key decision-makers to reshape the healthcare landscape towards one that embodies equity and justice, significantly contributing to the transformative path of Indigenous health through her leadership and research, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.