Advancing Indigenous Mental Health and Wellness Through Indigenous Knowledges
The Shkaakaamikwe gchi twaa miigwewin – Mother Earth’s Gifts Ontario Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (ON NEIHR) is a collaborative, Indigenous-led research network dedicated to improving mental health and holistic wellness for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) communities. Grounded in Indigenous Knowledges, cultural safety, and holistic healing, our work connects Indigenous communities, researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers to create meaningful, long-term solutions for mental health challenges.
Our logo and what it means: Shkaakaamikwe gchi twaa miigwewin: Mother Earth’s Gifts Ontario Network Environments in Indigenous Health Research (ON NEIHR) logo, circular in shape, features a stylized profile of a woman depicted in shades of red and black. Intricate designs of stylized branches, flowers and leaves extend from the women’s breath, representing Mother Earth’s gift of life. Overlapping circles of red, yellow, white, and black represent the interconnectedness of the sacred medicine wheel.
Logo Designer: Atelier Oluwatosin, atelier@oluwatosin.net
Our Purpose
To address the mental health crisis affecting Indigenous Peoples by shifting from Western biomedical models to culturally safe, strengths-based approaches rooted in Indigenous traditions and governance.
Our Approach
Community-Driven Research
FNMI communities guide our research priorities, ensuring solutions align with Indigenous values and realities.
Indigenous Knowledges Framework
We integrate holistic care, land-based healing, self-governance, and spirituality into mental health solutions.
Collaborative Partnerships
Working with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, academic researchers, and healthcare providers to co-create impactful programs and policies.
Training & Education
Developing the next generation of Indigenous scholars, researchers, and mental health professionals through mentorship, training, and capacity-building initiatives.
Policy & Systems Change
Advocating for ethical research, decolonized healthcare practices, and systemic improvements at local, national, and international levels.
Why This Matters
Indigenous communities continue to experience disproportionately high rates of suicide, addiction, and mental health crises due to colonization and its ongoing impacts and historical and systemic barriers.
Our work ensures that Indigenous Peoples have access to culturally appropriate, sustainable, and effective mental health support, to not just survive—but to thrive.
Get Involved
Influencing Policy & Systemic Change
Through research-driven advocacy, we work to decolonize/reconcile healthcare policies, improve mental health services, and support self-governance in FNMI health initiatives.
Together, we can transform mental health care.