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Indigenous Wellness Research Institute

Indigenous Wellness Research Institute

Past IWRI Projects

The Honor Project

Lead Investigator: Karina L. Walters, PhD
The Honor Project was a ground-breaking survey with six nationwide partners looking at the impact of historical trauma, discrimination and other stressors on the health and wellness of Native Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, transgender and Two-spirited men and women – a historically underserved poplulation. IWRI partnered with Native agencies to ground and contextulize the information gathered through the project. This process was truly a collaborative venture, involving community members at every step of the research process. Community driven research is just one of the many ways that IWRI respects indigenous knowladge, diversity and resillency

Supplementary studies to the Honor Project

Karina L. Walters
Trauma, Coping, and Health Outcomes Among HIV+ Native Americans
The major goals of this competitive supplement are to: (a) identify preliminary prevalence rates of trauma and violence and health outcomes for HIV+ AIs; (b) examine how cultural and spiritual coping factors moderate the effect of trauma on health outcomes; (c) explore strategies for coping with HIV and potential stigma; (d) identify barriers to HIV/AIDS services; and (e) document adherence to antiretroviral medications, traditional AI health and healing practices for living with HIV, and safer sexual practices post diagnosis.

Karen Fieland, PhD
Spirituality and Health among HIV+ Native Americans
Stress and coping mixed methodological study among HIV+ American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Building on Strengths in Indian Child Welfare Education

Lead Investigator: Tessa Evans-Campbell, PhD
This was a tri-state training grant for Masters-level social work students working with American Indian and Alaska Native families in preparation for post graduate Indian Child Welfare practice.