Josewski, Dr. Viviane
Biography
Dr. Viviane Josewski, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), and a Research Associate with the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH). A white settler, Dr. Josewski grew up in Germany where she started her career as a nurse. After emigrating to Canada, she completed a MSc in Population and Public Health, and PhD in Health Sciences while working on a series of Indigenous-partnered community-based research projects in the areas of intimate partner violence, mental health and addictions, and more recently, diabetes. She also brings with her the knowledge and experience gained from working as a health equity policy analyst, as well as a postdoctoral fellowship in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC), UNBC’s Northern Medical Program and the NCCIH. In addition, Dr. Josewski is a recognized contributor to the Health Arts Research Centre (HARC) also housed at UNBC. These relationships and connections inform her ongoing work in health equity and commitment to Indigenous communities.
Research and Expertise
Dr. Josewski’s program of research – funded by CIHR, SSHRC, AGEWELL and most recently, MSFHR – is located at the interface of health equity, Indigenous health, and health policy and services, with a particular interest in social and structural inequities in mental health, and cultural safety. Specifically, her work seeks to create new knowledge on the social and structural factors, policies and practices that contribute to health and social inequities and those that are equity-promoting. These interests are informed by her strong interdisciplinary background, and long-standing work and relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations, scholars and researchers. Her approach to research integrates critical anti-colonial perspectives from across different disciplines (e.g., nursing, medical anthropology, public policy, health sciences, gender studies, Black and Indigenous studies) and seeks to build respectful, relevant, reciprocal and responsible research relationships in partnership with researchers, health authorities, health care providers, students and communities. A member of an interdisciplinary group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, Dr. Josewski currently works with four BC Interior urban Indigenous communities, local health care providers, and the Interior Health Authority on co-developing, implementing and evaluating culturally safe tele-diabetes services that bring together Indigenous and Western ways of knowing. Her future research at UNBC will expand this work by supporting the development of Indigenous-led culturally safe pathways to mental wellness through community-based research in the Interior of British Columbia and new partner engagement in the North.
Research Fields:- Community
- Culture
- Ethics
- Gender and Women's Studies
- Health and Wellbeing
- Integrated Knowledge Translation
- Mental Health
- Rural Health Services
Critical theoretical perspectives, community-partnered research, intersectional approaches, qualitative research, population health, anti-colonialism, equity-oriented health care, Two-Eyed Seeing, Indigenous-led health services, women's health, mental health and addictions
Languages Spoken:- English
- German
- MScN Nursing
- MSc Health Sciences
Selected Publications
Josewski, V.; Morrow, M.; Smye, V.; Lavoie, J.; O'Neil, J.; Mussel, W. et al. Applying A Critical Policy Lens to Mental Health and Addictions Contracting with urban Indigenous Communities. International Indigenous Policy Journal [accepted with revision 2022].
Josewski, V. (2022). Improving access to mental health and addictions services and supports for older Indigenous adults, using a cultural safety and equity lens. National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health.
Gross, P.; Efimoff, I.; Josewski, V.; Cohn, F.; Lambert, S.; Everstz, T.; Oliffe, J. et al. (2022). Where are our men? How the DUDES Club has supported Indigenous men in British Columbia, Canada to seek a path of healing and wellness. Smith, J., Watkins, D., Griffith, D. et al. Health Promotion for Adolescent Boys & Men of Color: Global Strategies for Advancing Research, Policy, and Practice in Context. 1: xx. Springer. [In Press]
Smye, V.; Josewski, V.; Gross, P.; Efimoff, I.; Patrick, L.; Lambert, S. et al. (2022). Implementing Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care: A Handbook for Diverse Service Contexts. Wathen N, Varcoe C et al. Trauma- and Violence-Informed Mental Health Interventions: Our Work with Indigenous Men.: xx. University of Toronto Press. [In Press]
Efimoff, I., Patrick, L., Josewski, V., Gross, P., Lambert, S., & Smye, V. (2021). The power of connections: How a novel Canadian men’s wellness program is improving the health and well-being of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men. International Indigenous Policy Journal, 12(2), 1-22.
Jones, C., Kurtz, D., Josewski, V. (2021). Indigenous methodologies for culturally safe telediabetes/obesity care (I’M T’CARE). Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 457), S12-S13.
Smye, V., Varcoe, C., Browne, A.J., Dion Stout, M., Josewski, V., Ford-Gilboe, M., Keith, B. (2021). Violence at the intersections of women’s lives in an urban context: Indigenous women’s experiences of leaving and/or staying with an abuse partner. Violence Against Women, 27(10), 1586-1607.
Josewski, V. (2015). Moving towards cultural safety in mental health and addictions contracting for urban Indigenous Peoples: Lessons from British Columbia [unpublished PhD dissertation]. Simon Fraser University.
Josewski, V. (2012). Analysing ‘cultural safety’ in mental health policy reform: Lessons from British Columbia, Canada. Critical Public Health, 22(2), 223-234.
Smye, V., Josewski, V., & Kendall, E. (2010). Cultural safety: An overview. First Nations, Inuit and Métis Advisory Committee, Mental Health Commission of Canada.
