How do health, spirituality and well-being intersect in the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) Region 3? A Métis-guided, community-based, participatory study.

Objectives: The purpose of our research was to understand intersections between health, spirituality and well-being in the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) Region 3.

Design: This Métis-guided, community-based, participatory research builds on our previous patient-oriented community-based study where we co-developed a qualitative structured survey with leaders, Elders and community members to explore health, spirituality and well-being in the MNA Region 3.

Setting: Métis people are affected by historical and contemporary impacts of colonisation. This includes the residential school experience, impacting how Métis people relate to themselves, to others and to their culture. Alberta has the highest Métis population in Canada, and our research is based in the most densely populated region.

Participants: 101 surveys were completed between September and November 2021, via Qualtrics. Twenty-five participants who completed surveys participated in community-based participatory research sharing circle data analysis groups in January 2022, via Zoom.

Results: Six overarching themes were developed in our participatory data analysis: (1) searching, (2) interconnectedness, (3) colonisation and systems, (4) traditional practices and teachings, (5) spiritual and religious practices and (6) relationship with Métis identity.

Conclusions: We discovered multiple intersections between health, spirituality and well-being within the MNA Region 3. Our results indicate that the impacts of colonisation for Métis people are poorly understood. More research is needed to understand the ongoing impacts of colonisation, including increased understanding about Métis identity, health, spirituality, religion and well-being. In particular, more research is needed about the effects of intergenerational trauma in the broader MNA, and across Canada.