2023 Gathering on Indigeneity, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Mental Health in Ontario

Viewed from above, about twenty seated participants face each other for discussion in a brightly lit room
man poses with eagle feather
two men face each other, one holding an eagle feather

The 2023 Gathering on Indigeneity, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Mental Health in Ontario brought Indigenous community members, including those with lived experience of neurodevelopmental disabilities and mental health concerns, together with researchers and clinicians to share knowledge and form connections.

The two-day event was funded by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Planning and Dissemination Grant awarded to Associate Professor of Applied Disability Studies Kendra Thomson and principle knowledge user Louis Busch of Shkaabe Makwa at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

Newly Launched Report

The researchers also compiled a report to bring additional awareness to the topics and insights shared at the event.

Published in the fall of 2023, Forming the Circle: Report on the 2023 Gathering on Indigeneity, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities & Mental Health calls for culturally relevant services, enhanced partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations and a national network for knowledge-sharing and advocacy, among other recommendations.

The report reflects the collective findings of Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous allies who participated in the gathering and in the iterative feedback process that informed the report’s development.

Future opportunities

Sign up for one of the sessions using the links below:

In the media

Read about the focus groups in The Brock Press 

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Sponsors, partners, and supporters

The research team is grateful to all who supported the May 2023 event.

Shkaabe Makwa logo
CIHR logo
BCANDS logo
Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship logo
Autism Resource Centre logo
Métis Faamii Foundation Inc logo
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