Men of the North is participating in the project. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

understanding

Northerners included in U of R research project focused on men

Feb 1, 2021 | 12:46 PM

Men across the province will benefit from a University of Regina research project just starting in four Saskatchewan communities.

The project is called Nurturing Warriors: Understanding Mental Wellness and Health Risk Behaviours among Young Indigenous Men and is being led by associate professor Dr. Elizabeth Cooper. It was made possible through a grant by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation totalling approximately $800,000.

“We’re setting up a group of young men who are going to be the ones advising it,” Cooper said, adding Men of the North is the La Ronge contact. “We had our first meeting, and they were talking about some of the things we should be doing.”

The four-year project is focused on what society should be doing to support men and understand what men are facing in their daily lives. Cooper noted it’s also about asking men what can be done for them and discovering their reality. Other communities participating are Beauval, Cumberland House and Prince Albert.

Once the project is finished, Cooper explained Saskatchewan will be a leader in the field. She said there is interest across Canada, but also internationally, about the best ways to support men.

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“It’s so important we take the time and actually ask people how they are doing,” Cooper said. “That’s what we’re going to be doing in this.”

Some of the ways the research will be done is through activities the men have determined to be useful. That could include cultural activities, guest presentations, skill development and more.

Cooper mentioned videos will be taken at some events and research papers will be compiled with the project’s findings. Some of the grant money will also be used to pay for administration, training university students, training community members on research techniques and travel.

“We need to get over the idea people should be able to be strong and do things by themselves,” Cooper said. “If this project can help people see they are not alone and everything they do matters and is valuable then that’s a success.”

Editors’ note: this article was amended to correct the spelling of Dr. Elizabeth Cooper’s last name.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno