Miskanawah, the Unaddressed Project Indigenous Lead

To ensure that Indigenous perspectives are integral to our research, the project continuously engages with an Indigenous lead partner, Miskanawah. Miskanawah plays a pivotal role in guiding the design, data collection, and analysis to ensure the research reflects Indigenous experiences of housing insecurity and homelessness in Calgary. 

Miskanawah (meaning “many little paths” in Cree) is an Indigenous-led charitable organization, grounded in cultural traditions and teachings, and has operated in Calgary for over 35 years. Miskanawah is a multi-service organization, offering programs and services in the areas of family support (ranging from prevention and early intervention to intervention), youth services, clinical and cultural mental health supports, crisis support, housing support, and cultural and ceremonial supports.

Miskanawah will co-manage Unaddressed project data with the Women’s Centre, adhering to the principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP®). This will safeguard Indigenous data sovereignty and ensure that data management practices align with Indigenous governance and priorities. 

Furthermore, Miskanawah will lead the dissemination of findings related to Indigenous experiences. Together with the Women’s Centre, it will co-develop a knowledge translation plan, utilizing culturally relevant methods such as storytelling, community presentations, and collaborations with Indigenous organizations. By centering the Indigenous lead partner in this way, the project ensures that Indigenous voices and knowledge are foundational to both the research and its outcomes.