Ep. 7 Nathan Rabang and Vanessa Hiratsuka - Disability Decolonized

In this episode, Dr. Matt Wappett interviews Nathan Rabang and Vanessa Hiratsuka about their recent article in the Developmental Disabilities network journal special issue on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Their article was entitled Disability Decolonized: Indigenous Peoples Enacting Self-determination and can be found here. A qupte from their article that gets at the core of our conversation is, "To reach a full decolonization of IDD health care and fully embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles, individuals in these [Indigenous] communities need to be viewed as experts in their journey of resilience." Full transcripts of this podcast interview are available in English and Spanish.

 

Nathan was born on Dena'ina land in Anchorage, AK. He is enrolled in Shxwhá:y Village in Southern BC. He currently works at the University of Alaska Anchorage where he is a researcher for the Center for Human Development and focuses in disability research, critical indigenous theory, and bioethics.

 

Vanessa Y. Hiratsuka, PhD MPH (Diné/Winnemem Wintu) is an assistant professor of clinical and translational research and co-director of research and evaluation at the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development. She is also an affiliate faculty member of the University of Washington's Department of Bioethics and Humanities. She received a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford University, a master’s degree in public health practice from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a doctoral degree in public health from Walden University. She is the co-chair of AUCD's Council on Research and Evaluation (CORE). Her community engagement work has spanned regional, national, and international efforts. Dr. Hiratsuka has extensive experience coaching and mentoring community and university-based researchers and practitioners in ethical, social, and legal implications of genomic research and clinical and translational research and developing culturally adapted chronic disease and behavioral health interventions in tribal health settings. Her research interests include ethical, social, and legal implications of genomic research and precision medicine among Indigenous populations; cultural adaptation of chronic disease and behavioral health interventions; and engaging individuals experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities in the planning, conduct and dissemination of evaluation and research projects.

 

https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-health/departments/center-for-human-development/index.cshtml

https://www.aucd.org/template/page.cfm?id=65