February 18, 2025
In a recent commentary published in International Journal for Equity in Health, First Nations Pandemic Network co-Chair Ms Kristy Crooks and her colleagues call on governments and health authorities to uphold Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and leadership in pandemic planning and response efforts.
Indigenous communities worldwide continue to disproportionately bear the burden during pandemics due to ongoing health inequities and systemic exclusion from pandemic decision-making processes.
As the global community prepares for the next pandemic, it is critical to prioritise Indigenous leadership and governance within public health responses.
This commentary highlights successful models of Indigenous-led pandemic responses during COVID-19 in Canada and Australia. It introduces the EPIC (Equity, Partnerships, Intelligences, and Change) framework, that emphasises equity, leadership and local and cultural intelligence as critical components to improve pandemic preparedness and response for Indigenous communities.
This international collaboration calls on governments and health authorities to uphold Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and leadership in pandemic planning and response efforts.