Lii Zaanfaan (The Children): Understanding the Health and Well-being Trajectories of Métis Children in Alberta
About Lii Zaanfaan
Lii Zaanfaan (The Children in Michif) is a research initiative launched in April 2020 to deepen our understanding of Métis health, focusing on the health and well-being of Métis children in Alberta. This project builds on previous maternal and perinatal health research and explores how early health experiences impact the long-term well-being of Métis children.
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is developing a 10-year strategy to support Métis children’s health across the lifespan. The findings from Lii Zaanfaan will inform this strategy by identifying key factors that influence childhood health and well-being and ensure culturally appropriate, community-driven actions that improve Métis children’s health in Alberta and beyond.
Objectives of the Study
Objective 1: Evaluate the health and well-being trajectories of Métis children
- Population-based retrospective birth cohort study examining health trends by age 10 among children born to Métis mothers in Alberta.
- Cross-sectional study of Métis caregivers of children aged 10 and under to assess health determinants.
Objective 2: Explore Métis families’ perspectives on childhood well-being
- Métis Family Gatherings: Community gatherings to share experiences and insights.
- Cultural Probe Kits: Hands-on, creative activities allowing children to express their perspectives on health and identity through traditional arts.
Lii Zaanfaan Virtual Art Gallery
As part of the Lii Zaanfaan project, MNA sent Cultural Probe Kits to Métis children aged 10 and younger across Alberta. These kits invited children to create artwork reflecting their responses to two key questions:
- What makes you happy?
- What do you love about being Métis?
These artistic expressions, using traditional Métis art forms like beading and embroidery, provide valuable insights into Métis children’s well-being. The Lii Zaanfaan Virtual Art Gallery showcases these artworks and reflections, celebrating the voices of Métis children and their perspectives on identity, health, and happiness.
Explore the Lii Zaanfaan Virtual Art Gallery to view their inspiring creations and stories.
For more information, please contact us at 780-455-2200 or health@metis.org.
This project is funded by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Ehawawisit (With Child)
The Ehawawisit (With Child): Maternal and Perinatal Health Outcomes Among the Métis in Alberta and the Influence of Proximal, Intermediate, and Distal Determinants of Health research project was developed in partnership with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, and McMaster University.
Through an epidemiological analysis of administrative health data, we saw where Métis women and babies experienced different health outcomes compared to non-Métis women and babies. The Ehawawisit project activities were completed in April 2021 and the findings were compiled into three reports.
