On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities across Canada. Today, we honor the survivors of residential schools and remember those who never returned home. It is a day to reflect on the lasting impacts of colonialism and a reminder of the importance of facing the truths of our shared history.
In this blog, adapted from the CanFASD Annual Impact Report 2025–2026, we share how we are working to create a National FASD Indigenous Framework in Canada – an initiative aimed at combining Indigenous knowledge with culturally responsive FASD supports.
The impacts of historical and ongoing colonization shape both the prevalence of FASD and how it is managed among Indigenous children and families. These impacts highlight the limitations of mainstream healthcare approaches along with the importance of Indigenous knowledge and culture to supporting wellbeing across physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual domains. Accordingly, there is a need for a culturally sensitive, community-driven approach to FASD assessment, diagnosis, and support.
Through this community-based participatory research project, we are co-creating a national, strengths-based Indigenous FASD Framework in Canada. Drawing inspiration from the Australian FASD Indigenous Framework, our collaboration involves University of Alberta and CanFASD researchers. Alongside community partners, we have established an advisory circle, are conducting a realist literature review, have surveyed FASD clinics across Canada, and are facilitating sharing sessions with clinicians and individuals with lived experience.
Progress through partnership
This project began with a $200,000 grant from the One Child Every Child initiative through the University of Calgary. The Yukon Government and Canada Northwest FASD Partnership have also committed matching funds to ensure voices from across the country are integrated into the framework.
Over the past year, we have convened two meetings of our Community Advisory Circle, made up of seven Indigenous women and three allies who bring extensive experience in culturally safe approaches to FASD. Members of our research team also visited communities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Yukon Territory, and Manitoba to carry out community dialogues with Elders, service providers, and people with living FASD experience. This year, we also surveyed clinics across Canada to understand service provider perspectives on providing culturally safe services to Indigenous children and families.
Emerging insights and key reflections
With 45 respondents, preliminary survey findings from FASD clinics across Canada are helping to shed light on both strengths and significant gaps in culturally safe service delivery for Indigenous individuals and families. While many clinicians emphasized the importance of relational, client-centered care and demonstrated awareness of the impacts of colonization and intergenerational trauma, the integration of Indigenous knowledge, cultural practices, and Indigenous-led approaches remains inconsistent across settings. Some clinics reported efforts such as Elder involvement and culturally relevant programming; others indicated a need for these supports accompanied by limited or no access.
Respondents also spoke to key barriers including long waitlists, geographic and financial challenges, fragmented systems, and ongoing experiences of racism and stigma, alongside reliance on assessment models that may be culturally biased or narrowly focused. Respondents identified a strong need for increased Indigenous leadership, culturally grounded training, sustainable funding, and improved coordination across services.
Moving forward, community dialogues are helping us deepen our understanding and contextualize these findings, while seeking to bring to life a framework that centres Indigenous voices, sovereignty, and knowledge systems.