Chasity Delorme's research project focuses on "Restoring Indigenous Matriarchal Resilience" by developing culturally sensitive mental health programs designed for Indigenous pregnant girls and young mothers. This pioneering initiative seeks to address the mental health challenges and to empower them by integrating traditional Indigenous birthing and parenting practices and ways of knowing into the support framework. The project's methodology encompasses a multi-faceted approach to community engagement, including in-depth interviews with Indigenous mothers, consultations with Knowledge Keepers and community leaders, and collaborative workshops to co-design the mental health programs. Delorme plans to adapt and refine successful intervention models like "Mama Pods" and Nato'wehowin to fit the unique cultural contexts of First Nations and Métis communities. This adaptive process involves analyzing existing models' effectiveness, identifying culturally relevant elements, and integrating these insights into the design of tailored interventions. By closely working with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Delorme's research aims to provide actionable insights into culturally adapted interventions, thus enhancing the support available to Indigenous mothers and contributing to the strengthening of community resilience, the reinforcement of cultural identity, and the addressing of critical mental health care gaps among Indigenous populations.

This project is co-funded in partnership with Mitacs and Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF).