Biography

Dr. Krista Stelkia is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and inaugural Director of the Centre for Collaborative Action on Indigenous Health Governance, a partnership between SFU FHS and First Nations Health Authority. She is Syilx/Tlingit from the Osoyoos Indian Band in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Stelkia is an interdisciplinary Indigenous health researcher whose research primarily investigates the structural determinants of Indigenous peoples’ health and wellbeing. With a background in health sciences and criminology, Dr. Stelkia’s research has critically explored structural racism and health, Indigenizing health and wellness indicators in public health reporting, Indigenous health mentorship, connection to land as a determinant of health, and police oversight and accountability. Dr. Stelkia has over 15 years of professional experience working with First Nations communities and organizations, including the Office of the Chief Medical Officer at the First Nations Health Authority. She joined the Faculty of Health Sciences as an Assistant Professor in September 2022.

Research Interests

Dr. Krista Stelkia’s research interests focus on advancing the health and wellness of Indigenous peoples locally and globally through research that is community-engaged and privileges Indigenous knowledges and worldviews. Dr. Stelkia is interested in research that employs interdisciplinary methods and approaches to address complex structural inequities faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada. Her primary research interests are to examine and explore Indigenous determinants of health and wellness, Indigenous health research ethics, structural racism and health, Indigenous health governance, and the intersections between Indigenous health and the criminal justice system.

Select Research Projects

• Indigenizing Health Research Ethics: Dr. Stelkia is leading a three-year study on Indigenizing Health Research Ethics in British Columbia with Indigenous Communities, Collectives and Organizations: Co-Create Wise Practices & Distinctions-Based Ethical Protocols in Indigenous Health Research.
• British Columbia Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research: Dr. Stelkia is the incoming nominated principal investigator for the British Columbia Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (BC NEIHR), which is one of nine Indigenous-led networks across Canada that support research leadership among Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) communities, collectives and organizations.
• Ărramăt Project: Dr. Stelkia is a co-investigator on a global six-year project which aims to strengthen Indigenous health and wellbeing through Indigenous-led conservation and sustainable relationships with biodiversity. She is co-leading Pathway 10: Nurturing Indigenous Medicine and Health Care, with Dr. John O’Neil, to support Indigenous placed-based projects around the globe in traditional Indigenous medicine and health care.
• First Nations-Specific Racism in BC’s Health Care System: Dr. Stelkia is leading a project on Identifying Priorities to Address First Nations-specific Racism in the Health Care System in Partnership with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer at First Nations Health Authority in BC.

Publications and Activities

View Dr. Krista Stelkia’s publications here.