Making Wise Choices: Community Engaged Data Governance lessons for Primary Care Research

25 June 2025 / 12 – 1 PM ET / Zoom

Session Description:
OKAKI is a Blackfoot word meaning Be Wise. OKAKI is also an Alberta based public health services and health informatics social enterprise that works with First Nations communities across Alberta. This session will explore lessons on healthcare data governance facilitating data sovereignty with Alberta First Nations communities, reflecting on principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession considering Blackfoot concepts of knowledge and decision making. The opportunity for
community-led primary health care implementation research will be discussed reflecting on OKAKI’s partnership with Alberta’s Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research, the Indigenous Primary Health Care and Policy Research (IPHCPR) Network.

Panelists:

Lindsay Crowshoe, MD
-Member of the Piikani First Nation
-Blackfoot Primary Care Physician and Researcher
-Associate Professor of Medicine and Assistant Dean Indigenous Health, University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine

Salim Samanani, MD
-Founder and Medical Director, OKAKI
-Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
-Adjunct Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria

Tyler White, MD
-Member of the Siksika First Nation
-Vice President of Indigenous Health, OKAKI
-Member, Board of Directors, OKAKI