Intercultural Collaboration Stewardship

Recommendations for a model for intercultural cultural collaboration in Psychedelic Research.

The formation of this collaborative research and development effort began with a collaborative non-profit pilot project that blended a community of practice program, with a focus on resilience development, with a series of group administered psychedelic-assisted therapy (PaT) sessions.

“Our team has developed and piloted a novel approach to PaT called Roots to Thrive (RTT). Since 2018, the RTT approach was co-developed with Indigenous knowledge holders and provincial authorities, refined in collaboration with hundreds of participants” (Dames, S., et al., 2022, p. 1)

     Evolving from the learnings of Vancouver Island University, Roots to Thrive and other knowledge translation efforts in Canada, the cross-cultural Etuaptmumk (two-eyed approach coined by Mi’kmaq Elder Albert Marshall in 2004 and adopted by CIHR in 2011) aims “to see from one eye with the strength of Indigenous ways of knowing, and to see from the other eye with the strengths of Western ways of knowing, and to use both of these eyes together.” (Bartlett, C. et al., 2012, p. 338). 

This process was a Participatory Action Research conducted for the Naut sa mawt Center for Psychedelic Research (NCPR) during 2023, where a leadership model was developed and a research methodological model designed based on a multiple-eyed seeing approach inquiry. With these models we aim to build capacity for creating a safe, culturally fluid, and decolonized environment for Indigenous participation in psychedelic research conducted by or in partnership with the NCPR.

     The recommendations come from the advice of Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers,  scholarly literature on two-eyed seeing approach and leadership, and the resulting conclusions from diverse meetings held with a small group formed by a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people called the Seed Group (SG). This small group may be constituted by 6 representatives holding Indigenous perspectives ( Elder Geraldine Manson, Emmy Manson, Charsanaa Johnny, Robert Nye) and 5 holding Western perspectives (Shannon Dames, Krys Sciberras, Jess Shannon, Gordon O’connor, Vivian Tsang). More people were involved as guests during the diverse activities. The writer of this proposal (Jimena Chalchi GP) comes from mixed ancestry and serves as a facilitator, mediator and writer for the process.

     The proposal includes a system mapping analysis; a compilation of the previously established language, routines and rituals; relationship building and knowledge sharing framework proposals, plans and strategies to thrive, etc.

Research community system map and analysis

     This research community's common intention is to find an accessible and culturally informed Psychedelic assisted therapies for treatment resistant conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) to treat individuals from diverse sociocultural backgrounds. 

     Information contained in this document was compiled through the initial research centre/institute proposal for Vancouver Island University's approval committees, through grant applications written by collaborating members, and as shared during development meetings.  At the time this analysis was made, the initial development team was shaped by 11 people from diverse ethnic origins, mainly European, that came to Indigenous lands in different times and situations in the past. All of these members hold doctorate academic degrees. The research community also includes 8 Indigenous members, from which 1 holds a doctorate, 3 hold Masters of Science, 2 are traditional Elders, and 2 Knowledge Keepers.

     Vancouver Island University’s research community aims to grow Indigenous membership and participation in order to work toward a more equal balance between Western/biomedical and Indigenous Ways of Knowing to inform the Psychedelic Medicine Research and Healing Centre: “Two-Eyed Seeing has been fruitfully applied to develop and study healthcare programs pursuing decolonization and culturally-sensitive healthcare [62] Our experiences suggest that the holistic nature of Indigenous ways of knowing are particularly well-suited for the complex relational, emotional, and spiritual experiences induced by psychedelics.[13,14]” (Dames, S., et al., 2022, p. 3).

     There are diverse stakeholders, organizations structured by the Western perspectives that influence directly the dynamics and balance of the mixed community and must be considered while embedding a stewardship model for intercultural collaboration.

Figure 1

British Columbia Health Research System Map

Note: Actors are persons, groups, or organizations acting within a system of interest. Stakeholders, on the other hand, are persons, groups, or organisations that are (1) affected by the project, (2) interested in the project, and/or (3) able to affect the project.

Table 1

British Columbia Health Research System stakeholders