Searching for Indigenous Health Information and Knowledges

Key Messages

What was the question?

• How can we work toward reconciliation by improving search methods for CADTH projects on Indigenous health topics?

What did we do?

• We scanned the library and information science literature to find mention of searching for Indigenous topics.
• We examined a list of key journals to determine their inclusion in bibliographic databases.
• We analyzed a set of evidence reviews to assess their search methods.
• We expanded the library collection to include Indigenous research methodologies.

What did we find?

• Standard biomedical sources for literature searching do not include the full spectrum of Indigenous health information and Indigenous Knowledges.
• Development of research and literature searching methodology for Indigenous health topics must ensure Indigenous Knowledges are respected and Indigenous communities are consulted.

What does this mean?

• Current search methods may not adequately retrieve relevant sources of Indigenous health information.
• CADTH is taking steps to expand literature search methods to retrieve sources of Indigenous information.
• This work aligns with CADTH's commitment to reconciliation as outlined in our Strategic Plan and Statement of Reconciliation.
• Further engagement with Indigenous communities is needed to help ensure respect is maintained in CADTH's reconciliation work moving forward.