"Honoring the Brain: Indigenous Knowledge, Data Sovereignty, and Community Pathways to Healing"
Indigenous Peoples have always understood the brain as more than an organ—it is a site of memory, identity, relationality, and spirit. Yet contemporary approaches to traumatic brain injury (TBI), dementia, and caregiver support often overlook the cultural, historical, and community contexts that shape brain health across the lifespan. This keynote explores how Indigenous knowledge systems, Tribal data sovereignty, and community driven evaluation can strengthen prevention, care, and healing for brain related conditions.
Drawing on Indigenous worldviews, national leadership experience, and community engaged research, Dr. Melanie Nadeau will discuss how historical trauma, chronic stress, and structural inequities influence brain health, and how culturally grounded protective factors—such as kinship, cultural identity, land based practices, and community connection—promote resilience. The session will highlight why Tribal control of data and evaluation processes is essential for designing effective TBI and dementia programs, ensuring ethical research, and supporting community led solutions. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how Indigenous frameworks can guide brain health initiatives, strengthen caregiver supports, and promote healing for future generations.