MNO-led review examines more than 40 years of Métis health research
A new scoping review led by the Métis Nation of Ontario’s (MNO) Healing and Wellness Branch, in collaboration with ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences), has been published in the International Journal for Equity in Health. Examining more than four decades of Métis health research, the review highlights the growth of the field while identifying important gaps in the evidence needed to support Métis communities.
The research brought together ICES researchers and students with Métis citizen researchers, MNO leadership, Senators and youth. Métis participants helped guide every stage of the process, from developing the research question to interpreting the findings, ensuring Métis perspectives remained central to the work.
The review examined 112 studies and reports published between 1980 and 2024 on Métis health, well-being and the social determinants of health. Key findings include:
- Métis health research is growing. The number of Métis-specific publications has more than tripled since 2010.
- Métis involvement is increasing. Overall, 58 per cent of studies included Métis authors and 62 per cent involved partnerships with a Métis government or organization. From 2020 to 2024, 77 per cent of publications included a Métis author, up from 48 per cent in the preceding decade.
- Métis research principles are being applied. All reports produced by Métis governments and organizations reported using ethical Métis research principles.
- Chronic diseases and mental health are prominent topics, including diabetes, cancer and mental health concerns.
Despite this progress, significant gaps remain. Only one study focused on children’s health, and few examined the experiences of Métis men or gender-diverse people. Research on communicable diseases focused largely on pandemics such as H1N1 and COVID-19, while only one study evaluated a health intervention.
The review also found that some research continues to be conducted without Métis researchers or community partners.
The authors recommend more dedicated funding for Métis-specific health research, greater investment in putting research findings into practice, and continued development of Métis-specific research methods. These recommendations come amid broader funding concerns, with recent figures indicating that just 7.2 per cent of federally funded Indigenous health research projects were Métis-specific.
The findings reinforce the importance of research guided by Métis people and responsive to the health needs and priorities of Métis communities.
Read the full review in the International Journal for Equity in Health.