Funding awarded to examine racism and colonialism in Manitoba institutions impacting HIV/STBBI outcomes

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has award $125,000 in funding for a community-led project that aims to tackle the harmful effects of racism and colonialism in Manitoba’s systems that are leading to increased HIV risks.

UM researcher Dr. Rusty Souleymanov, associate dean and associate professor, faculty of social work, and director, Village Lab, is leading a team of stakeholders, scholars, and community leaders from across Canada in research that will drive structural change by fostering policy reforms, anti-racist health systems, and community-led solutions.

This project titled “Community-Led Structural Interventions to Improve HIV/STBBI Outcomes and Dismantle Structural Racism and Colonialism Affecting Indigenous, Black, and Racialized Communities in Manitoba” was ranked top 3^rd in applications submitted to CIHR’s Moving Upstream: Structural Determinants of Health – Catalyst Grants.

“This research is about more than just identifying barriers—it’s about dismantling them. By centering Indigenous and Black leadership in shaping structural interventions, we are creating meaningful, community-led solutions to address the systemic racism and colonialism that have long impacted HIV/STBBI outcomes,” says Dr. Souleymanov.

Over the next year, this project will examine how structural racism and colonialism embedded in key Manitoba institutions, such as child welfare, criminal justice, housing, and healthcare, contribute to increased vulnerability to HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) among Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit), Black (African and Caribbean), and other racialized communities. By establishing a regional leadership network of community members, Elders, researchers, policymakers, service providers, and government representatives, the project will prioritize the leadership of Indigenous and Black communities in shaping transformative, community-led structural interventions. The project addresses the critical gap in capacity-building opportunities for Indigenous and Black scholars by equipping them with the necessary tools to lead community-driven research and advocacy efforts.

“Through partnerships, knowledge-sharing, and advocacy, we aim to transform policies, build anti-racist health systems, and ensure that those most affected by these inequities have the power to lead change,” says Dr. Souleymanov.

This interdisciplinary project brings together a diverse team led by Dr. Souleymanov and the Village Lab, is co-led by Dr. Bolaji Akinyele-Akanbi, Faculty of Social Work, and Dr. Alexadra King, Cameco Chair in Indigenous Health and Wellness, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. The initiative is conducted in collaboration with Indigenous-led organizations, including Ka Ni Kanichihk, Inc., Waniska!, CAAN, Two-Spirit Consultants, Inc., and the FEAST Centre.

The study brings together peers with lived experience, Indigenous and Black scholars, provincial health strategists, the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, the Manitoba HIV Program, and both local and national HIV/AIDS service agencies, leveraging the Village Lab’s partnerships to transform HIV/STBBI prevention and care in Manitoba.

The project is also committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers, with emerging Indigenous and Black trainees playing a key role in its execution.

The Faculty of Social Work is proud to support this impactful research, which aligns with its commitment to social justice, equity, and community-driven scholarship.