ShQUooz Circle: Nurturing the Next Generation through Physical Activity and Cultural Knowledge
Congratulations to Dr. Rosalin Miles, Indigenous Health Implementation Science Chair, who has been awarded a $1 million CIHR Implementation Science Chair in Human Development, Child and Youth Health (Indigenous Pool) to lead the ShQUooz Circle Program.
Rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems, ShQUooz Circle aims to empower Indigenous children, youth, and their families by fostering connections with aunties (ShQUooz), grandmothers, Elders, and other female Knowledge Keepers. The program emphasizes wholistic health and wellness, weaving together cultural values with physical activity and community-based learning.
Over the next five years, ShQUooz Circle will host four annual land- and water-based events co-created with Indigenous Women Rise, the Indigenous Physical Activity and Cultural Circle (IPACC), and the Indigenous Health & Physical Activity Program. Through activities such as canoeing, hiking, harvesting, and gathering, participants will engage in cultural teachings that strengthen identity, belonging, and well-being.
This initiative is designed to:
- Promote mentorship through intergenerational connections with Knowledge Keepers and Elders.
- Foster cultural identity by sharing traditional practices and values tied to the land and water.
- Support Indigenous youth and children in building resilience, wellness, and community ties.
- Train Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students, who will contribute to research, data collection, and knowledge mobilization.
By integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into health promotion, ShQUooz Circle represents a powerful step toward advancing community wellness, cultural continuity, and Indigenous-led approaches to health research.
About the Chair
Dr. Rosalin Miles (MKH’98) serves as the Indigenous Health Implementation Science Chair at UBC’s School of Kinesiology. Her leadership in the ShQUooz Circle Program highlights the importance of community-driven, culturally grounded approaches to health, supporting the next generation through both physical activity and cultural knowledge
Co-Investigator: Dr. Darren Warburton
Co-Investigator: Dr. Shannon Bredin