Dalla Lana School of Public Health

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Title: Indigenous knowledge, western research, and a community’s cancer journey

Aamjiwnaang is known as “the place at the spawning stream – where the water flows spiritually like a braid”. The community is located along the shores of the St. Clair River, within the boundaries of the City of Sarnia, Ontario. The community is situated directly adjacent to the Sarnia-Lambton Chemical Valley, an industrial complex of refining and chemical companies, and one of Canada’s largest concentrations of industry. The introduction of industries has resulted in poor air quality, chemical spills and other environmental events. Residents of Aamjiwnaang are very concerned about the health impact of these environmental contaminants. Over the last 20 years, Aamjiwnaang has been involved in copious research studies, ranging from water and soil analyses, to animal and food investigations. The community has already devoted ample time and energy with previous studies, therefore this community-led initiative proposed to consolidate past research to piece together a more complete picture to describe the potential connection between the impacts of environmental exposures and community health, specific to cancer outcomes.

Presenter: Amanda Sheppard

Amanda Sheppard is a Scientist with the Indigenous Cancer Care Unit at Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario). Elevating the health and wellbeing within Indigenous populations has been the focus of Dr. Sheppard’s research interests for over 20 years. She holds an MSc in Epidemiology, and a PhD in Medical Health Research from the University of Toronto (U of T). Amanda is an Assistant Professor with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health within the Division of Epidemiology at U of T.