Research
Driving change through community-based research. Learn more about our partnerships, study findings, and the resources we’ve created to support Indigenous healing and harm reduction across Northwestern Ontario.
Indigenous Women's Stress Study - IWSS
IWSS aimed to describe Indigenous women's life stressors, measure stress through salivary stress biomarkers and questionnaires, determine desired stress-reducing strategies and develop a stress-reducing intervention including Indigenous cultural practices.
Walking for Harm Reduction through Street Engagement - WHiSE
WHiSE, a project conceptualized and led by Elevate NWO, was conducted to describe the harm reduction needs and practices of Indigenous people who use substances in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Assessing Indigenous specific harm reduction needs and increasing access and knowledge of harm reduction - WHiSE 2.0
This project will create new knowledge on the harm reduction approaches and strategies desired and used by Indigenous people who use substances including STBBI and substance use rates in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste Marie.
Establishing a circle of care for Indigenous people that increases access and use of Indigenous healing strategies
The vision for Circle of Care is to build an Indigenous Healing Program. In brief, it is anticipated that through discussions with Indigenous women, needed and wanted Indigenous healing approaches, including ceremonies, will be identified and enacted in the program delivered by a Knowledge Carrier to learn and practice the approach.
1996-present: Ontario Cohort Study
Established in 1996, the Ontario HIV Treatment Network Cohort Study (OCS) is the largest community-governed HIV cohort in Ontario and is one of the largest cohort studies in North America. It represents a diverse group of Ontarians living with HIV including men and women of different ages, sexual orientations and ethnicities.
2023-2025: WHiSEr Together
This project centres on Indigenous teachings, protocols, practices, and processes within an HIV status-neutral daily drop-in program. Its purpose is to develop a relationship-based and inclusive model of care that supports and encourages HIV testing, linkage to care, treatment adherence, and ongoing retention in care for community members. Through a collaboration between ENWO, Oahas, and partner organizations, the program provided a safe space for social connection, access to care, referrals and resources, and additional support during a public health emergency. Elevate continues the work started under this project through its "Home Base" drop in centre. Led by Holly Gauvin and Meghan Young