The Impact of Colonization on Indigenous Cardiovascular Health in Minnesota: Developing a Conceptual Framework

The Impact of Colonization on Indigenous Cardiovascular Health in Minnesota: Developing a Conceptual Framework is a community-driven research project developed in partnership with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) in Minnesota. Supported by the Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota (C2DREAM) (Award #CON000000094340), this two-year pilot project uses community-based participatory research (CBPR) and Indigenous methodologies to better understand Indigenous perspectives on how colonization has affected cardiovascular health across generations.

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The project brings together community members living with and without cardiovascular disease to share their experiences and perspectives. The study team conducted semi-structured, open-ended interviews with 12 community members. These conversations give community members opportunities to reflect collectively on the connections between colonization, culture, history, and cardiovascular health.

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The interview findings will be used to develop a conceptual framework grounded in Indigenous perspectives and community knowledge. The framework could guide future research and the development of culturally relevant approaches to addressing cardiovascular health disparities in Indigenous communities.

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The project is led by Dr. Antonio Paniagua Guzman, Principal Investigator and Senior Research Associate at the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team (MK-MDT). The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa supervises and guides the project through its Institutional Review Board and Community Advisory Group, along with Dr. Kristen Jacklin, Executive Director, and Mr. Rick Smith, Elder in Residence, at MK-MDT. The study team is currently working on the data analysis phase, and outcomes are expected to be published in 2027.