Indigenous Community-Centered
Research in the CCNA

In the past, cognitive health research in Canada was rarely Indigenous-led. In Phase I of the CCNA, Team 20 was jointly dedicated to Indigenous and rural research. In Phase II, CCNA added a team dedicated to Indigenous research (Team 18) and a cross-cutting program, the Indigenous Cognitive Health program, dedicated to supporting Indigenous-led cognitive health research. The ICH program exists today supporting this work. In Phase III, teams to be announced in July 2025 will focus on Indigenous cognitive health research. Phase III prioritizes Indigenous self-determination and decolonization of Indigenous cognitive health research.

Dirt path winding through a dense forest.
Team Publications:
  • Rowat, J., Akan, N., Furlano, J., Ferrow, L., Ashdohonk, F., Smith, D., Ryder, K., O'Watch, T., Boehme, G., & Walker, J.

    Nakoda Oyáde Ománi Agíktųža: Adapting the Canadian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment in a Nakoda First Nation Community

    Canadian Journal on Aging

  • Sharma N, Walker JD, Wenghofer E, Moeke-Pickering T, Lindenbach J.

    Indigenous approaches to Health Assessment: A scoping review protocol

    Systematic Reviews

  • Henderson, R.*, Furlano, J.A.**, Claringbold, S.S., Cornect-Benoit, A.**, Ly, A., Walker, J.*, Zaretsky, L., & Roach, P.*

    Colonial drivers and cultural protectors of brain health among Indigenous peoples internationally

    Frontiers in Public Health

  • Chakanyuka, C., Bacsu, J. R., DesRoches, A., Dame, J., Carrier, L., Symenuk, P., O'Connell, M. E., Crowshoe, L., Walker, J., & Bourque Bearskin, L.

    Indigenous-specific cultural safety within health and dementia care: A scoping review of reviews

    Social science & medicine

  • Chakanyuka, C., Bacsu, J. R., Desroches, A., Walker, J., O'Connell, M. E., Dame, J., Carrier, L., Symenuk, P., Crowshoe, L., & Bourque Bearskin, L.

    Appraising Indigenous cultural safety within healthcare: Protocol of a scoping review of reviews

    Journal of Advanced Nursing

  • Walker J*, O'Connell ME*, Pitawanakwat K*, Blind M, Warry W, Lemieux A, Patterson CJ*, Allaby C, Valvasori M, Zhao Y, Jacklin K

    Canadian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (CICA): Inter-rater reliability and criterion validity in Anishinaabe communities on Manitoulin Island, Canada

    Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring

  • Jacklin K, Pitawanakwat K*, Blind M, O’Connell ME*, Walker J*, Lemieux AM, Warry W

    Developing the Canadian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment for use with Indigenous older Anishinaabe adults in Ontario, Canada

    Innovation in Aging

The Canadian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (CICA)

is a culturally appropriate approach to cognitive screening that is an adapted version of the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (KICA). This work was done in partnership with First Nations on Manitoulin Island. The project spanned CCNA Phases I and II.

Learn More About CICA