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

Increasing rates of dementia in First Nations populations require culturally grounded approaches to dementia diagnosis and care. To respond to the need for a culturally appropriate cognitive assessment tool, a national team of health services researchers and community partners, guided by a Nakoda Advisory Group, aimed to adapt the Canadian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment tool for a Nakoda First Nation in Carry the Kettle First Nation, Saskatchewan, Canada. The adaptation of the CICA for a Nakoda First Nation community resulted in a slightly modified version of the CICA signalling that the CICA requires minimal adaptation to be used in different First Nations contexts.

Indigenous Community-Directed Needs Assessment for Rehabilitation Therapy Services.

The eleven Indigenous communities served by the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC) in Saskatchewan, Canada have experienced a progressive reduction in access to physical and occupational therapy services. A community-directed needs assessment facilitated by FHQTC Health Services was undertaken in the summer of 2021 to identify experiences and barriers of community members in accessing rehabilitation services. Sharing circles were conducted according to FHQTC COVID-19 policies; researchers connected to community members via Webex virtual conferencing software.

Ethical research engagement with Indigenous communities.

Introduction: Canada's colonial policies and practices have led to barriers for Indigenous older adults' access to healthcare and research. As a result, there is a need for Indigenous-led research and culturally safe practices. Morning Star Lodge is developing a training module to assist AgingTech researchers on ethical, culturally safe ways to engage Indigenous communities.