LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — A new Indigenous-led research project is working to counter the misinformation and harmful stereotypes that have long shaped how Canadian Indigenous people, cultures and communities are perceived. The initiative, called Ihtsitomaniista’po’tako’p (Working Together), is led by the Ninastako Cultural Centre in partnership with Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Centre for Public Safety Applied Research (CPSAR). It brings together Elders, knowledge keepers, educators, students, researchers and community members to investigate how misinformation about Indigenous peoples spreads, what impact it has, and what can be done to address it. The project is rooted in the belief that communities themselves must lead the way in developing responses. Organizers say the work is urgent because false narratives continue to circulate in news coverage, on social media, in classrooms and in everyday conversations, often reinforcing long-standing prejudices. By gathering firsthand experiences and cultural knowledge, the project aims to create culturally relevant tools and resources that strengthen public understanding of Indigenous peoples and challenge the false ideas that fuel racism and division.
One of the central concerns motivating the project is the persistence of outdated stereotypes in modern spaces. Dr. Kirsten Fantazir (Anatsi’piiksaakii/Pretty Bird Woman), president’s applied research chair in public safety with CPSAR, said Working Together will directly engage with Indigenous communities to hear from those affected by misinformation. “We continue to see misinformation and harmful stereotypes about Indigenous people in media, online spaces and everyday conversations,” Fantazir said. “Working Together will engage with Indigenous communities to hear directly from those affected by misinformation and use that knowledge to create culturally relevant tools and resources aimed at strengthening Indigenous cultural understanding.” Dr. Jami Albright-Tolman (Natosii Apaniimstakyakii/Sun that Breaks through the Storm Lady), an instructor in the Centre for Justice and Human Services and a researcher with CPSAR, said the problem is not new but has found new life online. “This misinformation, which perpetuates racism and divisiveness, is happening so often online and in virtual and digital spaces, with stereotypes that were spread in traditional media in the 1860s still being used today, more than 150 years later,” she said. “This language and action entrenches inaccurate information as fact in people’s minds. Working Together aims to address that misinformation with practical, digital tools the public can engage with to correct those false notions in a positive and constructive way.”
The project is designed to be deeply collaborative and intergenerational, recognizing that meaningful change requires input from all ages and all parts of the community. Researchers will use a variety of approaches to gather knowledge, including focus groups, storytelling sessions, sharing circles, individual interviews and online surveys. The goal is to understand not only what misinformation exists but also how it affects Indigenous individuals and communities on a personal and collective level. These lived experiences will inform the design, development and evaluation of digital tools intended to correct false narratives and promote a more accurate understanding of Indigenous history, culture and identity. The project also aims to bridge community knowledge and academic research, ensuring that Indigenous ways of knowing are respected and integrated into the work rather than treated as secondary. By prioritizing the voices of Elders and knowledge keepers alongside young people and students, Working Together seeks to create responses that are grounded in cultural values and practical for real-world use.
Students are already playing an important role in the project, reflecting the project’s commitment to including the next generation of criminal justice and public safety professionals. Lainie Fuhrmann and Megan Gros Ventre Boy (Iinakii/Buffalo Woman), both fourth-year students in Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Criminal Justice program, are among those contributing to the research. Gros Ventre Boy said the project gives Indigenous people a necessary voice in conversations that directly affect their communities. “I know how important it is for people to have a voice in research about our language, culture and our communities,” she said. “Research like this allows us to have access to accurate information when working with those Indigenous communities, while also learning how to bring that information and those ways of knowing into academic spaces as a student in the criminal justice program.” Her words highlight the broader purpose of the initiative: to prepare future professionals to engage with Indigenous communities in informed, respectful and culturally aware ways. The involvement of students also demonstrates how academic institutions can support Indigenous-led work without taking control of the narrative.
The project is now open to community members who are willing to share their experiences, insights and cultural knowledge to help shape the tools and resources being developed. Fantazir said organizers want to hear directly from people about what they have encountered, what they have heard and what they know is circulating in their communities. “We want to hear about those lived experiences, what people have heard and what they know is out there,” she said. “These experiences will better inform the development of these tools and help us deconstruct those misinformed ideas and stereotypes.” The research methods are intentionally flexible, allowing people to participate in ways that feel comfortable and culturally appropriate. Whether through a sharing circle, a private interview, a storytelling session or an online survey, community members can contribute to a project that treats their knowledge as essential. The information gathered will not only guide the creation of digital tools but also help researchers and educators understand how misinformation intersects with racism, identity, public safety and community well-being.
Gloria Wells (Akohstikitstaki/Many Offerings), executive director of the Ninastako Cultural Centre, encouraged people to learn more about the project and share their own perspectives. “We also invite people to listen to Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Learning Innovation podcast to learn more about the project and share their own experiences and perspectives,” Wells said. “Every voice helps us build stronger understanding and more effective responses.” For those interested in getting involved, more information is available at www.workingtogether.info, where visitors can click “Get Involved” to participate. The project represents an important step toward addressing the deep-rooted misinformation that has shaped public attitudes toward Indigenous peoples for generations. By combining community knowledge, academic research, storytelling and digital innovation, Working Together offers a model for how to confront falsehoods in a positive, constructive and culturally grounded way. Its organizers hope the tools and resources produced through the initiative will not only correct misconceptions but also build greater empathy, understanding and respect for Indigenous peoples across Canada.