Indigenous Digital Health Ecosystem (IDHE)

How We Are Solving It

The Indigenous Digital Health Ecosystem (IDHE) Project will develop a new culturally aligned digital platform and suite of integrated applications, leveraging Consortium Members’ technologies and expertise to create highly differentiated applications that better meet the unique needs of First Nation communities. The IDHE will support a Nation-based approach to data management and business intelligence, while also enabling better integration capability with external systems. The managed ecosystem will also provide a pathway, or marketplace, for the delivery and integration of other third-party applications for interested First Nations.

The new platform and suite of integrated applications will support self-governance and service delivery by automating processes for First Nations, Indigenous and government organizations that manage healthcare, child and family services, housing, education, social development, and other related service domains.  It will fill the desired gap for an Indigenous-led solution ecosystem that reflects unique frameworks, service models, and business requirements of First Nations. Importantly, the IDHE platform will be anchored in key principles of data sovereignty such as OCAP™, as well as building on Mustimuhw Information Solutions’ (MIS) demonstrated leadership in the advancement of privacy and security capacity and conformance for Indigenous organizations and solutions.

The Result

The Indigenous Digital Health Ecosystem (IDHE) project represents a landmark initiative aimed at revolutionizing the way Indigenous communities manage and utilize data for health and social services within Canada. At the heart of the IDHE project lies a custom-developed digital platform that enables the seamless integration of various third-party applications. This innovation is not just a technological leap, but a culturally sensitive solution designed from the ground up to align with the holistic health perspectives of Indigenous communities. It encompasses physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental well-being.

The platform and its foundational components empower First Nations with the autonomy to manage their data across essential domains like healthcare, education, and housing, supporting self-governance and cultural integrity. A standout feature of the project was the creation of the core health application and a pioneering Indigenous Housing and Fire Safety application through partnership with CGI. This application uses AI and digital twin technologies to assess fire risk, improve fire safety measures, and reduce fire insurance costs, demonstrating the project’s commitment to leveraging technology for community safety and well-being.

Collaborations with Cambian and LifeLabs have led to enhancements in their respective digital health platforms, including updated booking, questionnaire, and lab service applications. These improvements are crucial for making healthcare services more accessible and culturally sensitive, particularly for remote or underserved communities.

The project laid a solid foundation for future technological advancements, with a strong emphasis on supporting the self-determination and empowerment of First Nations through digital innovation. It also established a measurement framework for social determinants of health (SDOH) and quality of life (QOL), informed by the research conducted by Trinity Western University, integrating Indigenous concepts and languages, thus ensuring that data collection and analysis are relevant and aligned with First Nations’ perspectives.

The IDHE project addresses the immediate technological needs of Indigenous communities. For third party vendors and investors it also represents a unique opportunity to contribute to a socially impactful initiative that promises to improve health, wellness, and safety outcomes for Indigenous communities across Canada, while paving the way for further technological development and commercialization in the field of Indigenous health and social services.