This project has two arms, a cross-sectional study and a longitudinal study. 

A cross-sectional study is like a camera snapshot that depicts health at one time point. In a cross-sectional study, information is gathered from many different individuals at a single point in time. The main goal is to examine the occurrence of different health-related characteristics, behaviors, and conditions in many different people of different ages. With this data we can explore relationships and trends. This method can result in an understanding of the relationship between different outcomes, such as the relationship between anxiety in teenagers and the quality of their social and community networks or their self-esteem.

For the Indigenous Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (I-HeLTI) Research Project we will administer surveys to all people willing to participate. The survey will cover a broad range of topics such as social support, food, housing, physical activity, and health status. The survey is tailored to the lives, experiences, and ways of knowing in Nuu-Chah-Nulth communities. The cross-sectional survey data will help provide information communities can use to inform their programs, practices and policies.

More information about how the I-HeLTI survey will be administered and how to participate will be coming soon.