Research at the University of Saskatchewan is looking into cultural cancer prevention tools for Metis people.
College of Medicine professor, and leader of the project, Dr. Gary Groot, says, “The big question is to understand how Saskatchewan Metis communities can strengthen their connection to culture as a way to improve health and prevent cancer from happening in the first place.
He notes that the Metis population in Canada is a high-risk underserved group when it comes to incidences of cancer and prevention efforts.
Groot explains that the project focuses on how cultural connectivity plays a role in being both mentally and physically healthy – for instance encouraging socialization, healthy eating, physical activity and other behaviours that lead to lower risk of cancer.
The project is co-designed by Metis Nation – Saskatchewan, patient partners and the USask research team.