At the centre of Dr. Bodnar’s work is the active involvement of Indigenous individuals in the Calgary area who have lived experience with FASD and her collaborative relationships with Indigenous partners. This approach ensures that community experiences and goals are effectively communicated to healthcare providers to advocate for policy changes prioritizing Indigenous health. By integrating Indigenous knowledge with Western scientific methods using the axiological teaching of etuaptmumk, or Two-Eyed Seeing, her research framework adopts a holistic and community-focused perspective on health, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects.

This collaborative and community-based research with members of the Métis Nation of Alberta and other local communities, seeks to fill gaps in FASD understanding and develop culturally relevant solutions that improve health outcomes for Indigenous children, youth, and adults.

Therefore, this work has a significant component of Indigenous community engagement. This engagement includes the creation of an Indigenous Advisory Circle and holding conversations with children and families, community members, teachers, and Elders to gain more informed and multigenerational understandings of wellness that could lead to improved health outcomes in the community.

PROJECT TITLES

• Multigenerational Perspectives on Connections Between the Land, Cultural Practices, and Child Health

• A Multisite Study of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: Effects of Inflammation and Endocrine Dysfunction in Adulthood