Education, Connection Drive Latest Roswell Park Center for Indigenous Cancer Research Efforts
Autumn brings opportunities through a conference, podcast and new resources

 

  • Center team helps plan international health conference
  • New monthly podcast, “The Talking Circle,” launched
  • Prominent Native cancer resource to be housed on Roswell Park website

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Continuing to reach across international borders, Roswell Park’s Center for Indigenous Cancer Research (CICR) has launched a number of educational and communications initiatives.

The CICR team is helping to organize and contribute to the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine-led Indigenous Health Conference (IHC). The event, happening virtually from December 3-5, is the largest Indigenous health conference in Canada.

CICR Director Rodney Haring, PhD, MSW, says the fourth biennial IHC conference will enlist participation from a wide range of Indigenous peoples, with representatives from the First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Native American Wisdom Keepers communities. Dr. Haring will provide insights on “Indigenous Health, Creative Peace, Courage and Cultural Resilience” as part of a plenary address during the meeting, while CICR team members Whitney Ann Henry and William Maybee will both lead presentations on Indigenous cancer health education, quality improvement mechanisms, along with concepts of Indigenous writing retreats.

“We look to IHC as a blending of Indigenous Knowledge, Western-based science and how we can apply these elements to benefit the health of future generations,” explains Dr. Haring. “The science and clinical advances we are seeing in Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation work with Indigenous people is a good model and something we hope to bi-directly learn and internationally share between Canada, Indigenous Nations, and how translates to the United States.”

  • “The Talking Circle” podcast: CICR staff members host “The Talking Circle,” a monthly podcast launched in November that delves into conversations about cancer and prevention and brings it from the labs and offices into Indigenous communities. The first episode gives an overview of the center through an in-depth interview with both Dr. Haring and Henry, the center’s Clinical Research Associate, on research the team is currently working on. “The Talking Circle” is available wherever podcasts are found.In addition, the CICR has also been involved in several community-engagement projects:

 

  • Native C.I.R.C.L.E. to be housed at Roswell Park: The Native Cancer Information Resource Center and Learning Exchange, a resource of culturally appropriate cancer, diabetes and health/wellness materials established at the Mayo Clinic in 2000, is transitioning to a new home on the Roswell Park website. The CICR will continue to work collaboratively with the Mayo Clinic, including Native C.I.R.C.L.E. founder Judith S. Kaur, MD, on distribution and outreach on a global scale. Dr. Haring credits Dr. Kaur as one of his mentors, saying, “I wouldn’t be the researcher that I am today without her support. It is an honor to take on Native C.I.R.C.L.E. and continue her vision into the next decade and beyond.”