Folio (University of Alberta) – Community-driven collective aims to learn from and empower Indigenous caregivers through research

Indigenous people face unique challenges in the health-care system, especially when it comes to services for those with autism. First Nations people who live on federally established reserves have limited access to caregiver support and resources that others can easily use and may even take for granted. This is mainly because on-reserve health care is the responsibility of the federal government, but most autism services are delivered by provincial and territorial health authorities. 

Grant Bruno, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics and a registered member of Nipisihkopahk (Samson Cree Nation), is working to change that. Bruno is receiving funding from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence — powered by The Azrieli Foundation — to support the Indigenous Caregiving Collective.