Faculty of Health Professions
School of Health and Human Performance (HAHP)
6230 SOUTH ST, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, B3H 4R2 | +1 (902) 494-2152

FACULTY


Dr. Debbie Martin
Assistant Professor, Health Promotion (Aboriginal Health)
B.Rec Honours (Co-operative), Memorial University of Newfoundland
MA Health  Promotion, Dalhousie University
Interdisciplinary PhD, Dalhousie University.

Stairs House, 6230 South Street
Phone: (902) 494-7717/Fax: (902) 494-5120
debbie.martin@dal.ca

 

 

 

BACKGROUND

Dr. Martin’s research and teaching efforts focus on issues related to Aboriginal peoples’ health.  Debbie is of mixed Inuit-European descent and a member of NunatuKavut (south-eastern Labrador Inuit).  She holds deep regard for diverse Indigenous perspectives on health and wellbeing, and believes that much can be learned about social and environmental health inequities if Indigenous knowledge and wisdom are positioned at the forefront of knowledge generation. With this in mind, Dr. Martin’s research is committed to incorporating diverse ‘ways of knowing’ into her research practice through various indigenous and community-based research methodologies.
  
RESEARCH

  • The health and well-being of Aboriginal peoples
  • Indigenous social determinants of health
  • Qualitative Indigenous research methodologies and perspectives
  • Food justice and food studies
  • Social and environmental health inequities

AFFILIATIONS

Co-Principal Investigator, Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program (www.aahrp.socialwork.dal.ca)

Research Associate, Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre (www.ahprc.dal.ca)

Executive Member, Aboriginal Health Research Network Secretariat (www.ahrnets.ca)

Mentor, Public Health Intervention Research Network (www.phirnet.ca)

CURRENT FUNDED RESEARCH

2011-2014:  Kungatsiajuk: Improving the healthy smiles of NunatuKavut children. CIHR-IAPH Open Operating Grant. Martin, D. (Nominated Principal Investigator), McNally, M. & Castleden, H. (Co-Principal Investigators). Amount: $387,575 for three years.

2011-2012: Aboriginal health research and the academy: Ethical tensions and institutional barriers for new scholars seeking to do community based research 'in a good way' -- Implications for improving health outcomes in Aboriginal communities Castleden, H. (Principal Investigator), Martin, D. (Co-Principal Investigator) & McNally, M. (Co-applicant). CIHR-IAPH Catalyst Grant (submitted October 2009; unfunded; re-submission September 2010; re-submission unfunded; submitted in March 2011; Funded in June 2011). Amount: $49,870/year for two years. Total: $99,740.

2010-2012: Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program. Funded through CIHR-IAPH on a directed grant to the Network Environments for Aboriginal Health Research Centres [$9.3 million]. Wien, F. (Nominated Principal Investigator). Martin, D. (Co-Principal Investigator of AAHRP)

2011-2012: Full plate: Women, obesity and food security. Atlantic Centre of Excellence in Women’s Health. Funded by Health Canada. Clow, B., Snyder, L., Papan, A. & Martin, D. (Co-Investigator). Amount: $68,000 for one year.

PUBLICATIONS

Martin, D. "Now we got lots to eat and they’re telling us not to eat it": Understanding changes to south-east Labrador Inuit relationships to food. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 70(4), 384-395.

Martin, D., Valcour, J., Bull, J., Graham, J., Paul, M., & Wall, D. NunatuKavut Community Health Needs Assessment: A Community-Based Research Project. (In Prep).

Martin, D. The Nutrition Transition and the Public Health Crisis: Aboriginal Peoples on Food and Eating. In, M. Koc, T. Winson & J. Sumner (Eds.), Critical Perspectives on Food Studies. London: Oxford University Press. (In Press)

Hood, R., Martin, D., McLaren, B. & Jackson, L. (2011). Youth views on environmental changes, the future of the environment and stewardship: The case of a Canadian coastal community. Society and Natural Resources, 24(6), 616-625

Martin, D. (2010). Viewing food through the lens of culture: Using VoiceThread as a dissemination tool. Community Based Research Publication. Millbrook First Nation, NS: Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program.

Martin, D. Food Stories: A Labrador Inuit-Metis community speaks about global change. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Dalhousie University. Halifax, Nova Scotia. December 2009. 

Jackson, L., Lyons, R., Hughes, J., Martin, D. & Winstanley, V. (2009). Does moving from a high poverty to lower poverty neighborhood improve mental health? A realist review of ‘Moving to Opportunity’. Health & Place, 15(4), 961-970.

Martin, D. & Jackson, L. (2008). Young women in coastal Newfoundland and Labrador talk about their social relationships and health. Newfoundland and Labrador Studies, 23(1), 1719-1726.

Martin, D. (2007). Embracing Western and Indigenous Methodologies. National Aboriginal Health Organization: Ottawa, ON.

Martin, D., MacAulay, A., MacComber, A., Moore, C. & Wien, F. (2006). Knowledge Translation: A Quest for Understanding. An Interim Report. Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program: Halifax, Nova Scotia.

PEER-REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS (2006-2011)

Martin, D., Valcour, J., Bull, J., Graham, J., Paul, M. & Wall, D. (2011, March). “Now I got my teeth, but I can’t afford to eat”: Understanding oral health as public health in NunatuKavut. CAHSPR Conference, May 9-12th, Halifax, NS. (Abstract Accepted).

Valcour, J., Martin, D., Bull, J., Graham, J., Paul, M. & Wall, D. (2011, March). Access to health-care and health related services in NunatuKavut communities. CAHSPR Conference, May 9-12th, Halifax, NS. (Abstract Accepted).

Bull, J., Graham, J., Martin, D., Paul, M., Valcour, J. Wall, D. (2010, October). Partnerships beyond the paper: Meaningful collaborations between communities and universities. Canadian Rural Health Conference, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Brzezicki, C. & Indigenous Health Scholars (Martin, D.). (2010, August). Indigenous summer research institute. Healing Our Spirit Worldwide 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Martin, D. (2010, March). Invited keynote presentation. 2010 Meeting at the Crossroads: Interdisciplinary Student Health Research Conference. Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Martin, D. (2010), March). Doing Aboriginal community-based health research. Engaging Together: Global Health Research in Atlantic Canada. Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Martin, D. (2009, July). From survival to necessity: Food stories from three generations of Labrador Inuit-Metis. International Conference on Circumpolar Health. Conference Proceedings from the 14th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

Martin, D. (2009, June). A Labrador Inuit-Metis community speaks about addressing global changes through ‘salmon stories’. Canadian Public Health Association Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Martin, D. (2009, October). Food Stories: A Labrador Metis Community Speaks about Global Change (An overview of my doctoral research). Graduate Student Seminar, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Martin, D. (2008, June). Food Stories. CIHR Scientific Director’s Award of Excellence Awards Presentation. NEAHR Student Gathering. Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec.

Martin, D. & Salmon, N. (2008, April). Inside Out: A Dialogue About Research and Identity. Interdisciplinary PhD Student Conference. Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Martin, D., Jackson, L., Tirone, S. & Donovan, C. (2007, July). Adult perspectives on youth out-migration. Atlantic Networks for Prevention Research Conference, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Poster presentation.

Martin, D. (2007, June). Labrador Metis Communities Changing Relationships to Food in a Context of Global Change: A Decolonized, Methodological Discussion. ACADRE National Student Gathering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Martin, D., Tirone, S., Jackson, L. & Donovan, C. (2006, November). Leisure, restructuring and the emotional health of youth in a rural Newfoundland community. Graduate Seminar, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Moore, C., Martin, D. & MacAulay, A. (2006, March). Knowledge translation: A quest for understanding. Knowledge Translation Summit, Regina, Saskatchewan.

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

Martin, D. “Use it or lose it?”: Incorporating Indigenous voices into Arctic dialogue. Invited panelist for the Ronald St. John MacDonald Symposium, hosted by Dalhousie’s International Student Law Society. (2011, January). (invited)

Martin, D. Valcour, J. & Bull, J. (2010, November). Results from the NunatuKavut Community Health Needs Assessment. Presented at the NunatuKavut Annual General Assembly. Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador.

Martin, D., Valcour, J. & Bull, J. (2010, September). Results from the Labrador Metis Community Health Needs Assessment. Presented to the NunatuKavut Community Council. Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador.

Martin, D. (2010, September). Environmental policy and health equity: Perspectives from NunatuKavut. Invited presentation to First Nations and Inuit Health, Health Canada. Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Invited)

Martin, D. (2010, May). Aboriginal health research: examples from the past, present and future. Presentation to the Board of the Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program. Pictou, Nova Scotia.

Martin, D, Valcour, J., Bull, J., Graham, J., Paul, M. (2010, April 26-30). Community consultations regarding Labrador Metis Community Health Needs Assessment. Consultations were held in Mary’s Harbour, St. Lewis, Port Hope Simpson, Charlottetown and Cartwright, Labrador.

Martin, D. (2010, March). Just what the doctor ordered: Two salmon-fishing trips and a side order of sealskin boots? Thinking outside of the (health) disciplinary box. Keynote Presentation for ‘Meeting at the Crossroads: Interdisciplinary Student Health Research Conference’. Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Invited)