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The intersection
of science, wisdom & community

The Indigenous Wellness Research Institute is committed to advancing science into the future with indigenous knowledges, research, scholarship excellence and the aspirations of communities.

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Our research projects, programs and partnerships are what drives our research institute.

Journey of Transformation

Journey of Transformation is a research study in partnership with Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. The purpose of this study is to know how well the curriculum explains leadership skills, Native American cultural arts, the natural environment, and promotes healthy decision-making around health and relationships.

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INSPIRE

INSPIRE (Indigenous Substance Use and Addictions Prevention Interdisciplinary Research Education) is a 24-month long research program for American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and other Indigenous pre- and post-doctoral students and early career scholars, focused on connecting fellows with scientific mentors across interdisciplinary fields and providing funding for pilot studies.

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BIG HART

The BIG HART program seeks to introduce Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students to key topics in HIV research and the way the epidemic impacts Indigenous communities across North America, connect them with Indigenous mentors working in the field of HIV/AIDS, and link students to research opportunities to foster careers in HIV research.

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INIHKD

The International Network for Indigenous Health Knowledge and Development (INIHKD) is a global alliance of Indigenous researchers, practitioners, scholars, and advocates from Aotearoa/New Zealand, Hawai‘i, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Established in 2003, INIHKD fosters transnational partnerships that center Indigenous-led research, ancestral knowledge systems, and community-led health solutions.

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Chahta Chatter Podcast

Our ancestors have used stories for generations upon generations for instructions on how to live a good way on the earth; they also have encoded ways in which we can heal. Chahta Chatter is a podcast where we re-story these traditional stories and reclaim narratives that empower us to reclaim our health.

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Meet Our Co-Executive Directors

Dr. Michelle Johnson-Jennings

Dr. Johnson-Jennings, a Choctaw tribal member and clinical health psychologist, is a Professor at the University of Washington in the Schools of Social Work and Public Health, and currently serves as the co-Executive Director of the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute (IWRI), as well as the founding director of IWRI’s Indigenous Environmental Health and Land-based Healing Division.

Dr. Tessa Evans Campbell standing outside in Fiji

Dr. Tessa Evans-Campbell

Dr. Evans-Campbell is an Associate Professor and co-Executive Director of the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute (IWRI) at the University of Washington School of Social Work. She is a Snohomish tribal member and a former Tribal Council Member with strong ties to tribal communities and Native organizations that serve Native children and families.