Sovereign Health, My Normative, and Health Cities Partner to Launch Innovative Traditional Birthing Centre led Metabolic Health Project
Indigenous-led collaboration combines cultural knowledge with digital health innovation to address gestational diabetes and establish new model for self-determined healthcare
Calgary, Alberta – 011/17/2025 – My Normative, in collaboration with Enoch Cree Nation Sovereign Health (Sovereign Health) and with strategic partnership from Health Cities, today announced the launch of a groundbreaking project focused on centring Indigenous representation in health innovation.
The Traditional Birthing Centre: Remote Digital Health Monitoring for Gestational Diabetes Proof of Concept project will culturally ground My Normative’s health innovation platform in partnership with Sovereign Health’s Traditional Birthing Program to address maternal and metabolic health outcomes around gestational diabetes.
This community-led initiative aims to generate real-world evidence (RWE) within Indigenous research settings, focusing on culturally grounded engagement and Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP) principles. The project’s adaptable framework will help create a path forward for a digitally enabled method to address a wide range of strategic and therapeutic priorities in partnership with health industry stakeholders.
“This project reflects what we mean when we say, ‘nothing for us without us.’ It is grounded in our right to health as Treaty people, and it shows what is possible when innovation is guided by our voices, our traditions, and our priorities. We are excited to be leading a path forward that not only improves outcomes for First Nation mothers and families, but also demonstrates how culturally grounded, Nation-led solutions can shape the future of health for everyone,” said Colleen McDonald of Enoch Cree Nation Sovereign Health
“This project represents a significant step forward in My Normative’s commitment to being a good partner to under-represented and under-resourced communities in the health research and innovation process,” said Danika Kelly, Co-Founder and CEO of My Normative, “By combining our expertise on health innovation and data management with Sovereign Health’s localised health knowledge and infrastructure, and the support of Health Cities, we can create a new model for inclusive and responsible data collection that informs healthcare delivery and therapeutic discovery.”
“This collaboration highlights the power of innovation to improve health outcomes for patients in meaningful ways, ultimately helping to build stronger, healthier communities,” said Lisa Laferriere, Vice President of Strategy at Health Cities. “It aligns closely with Health Cities’ work to improve healthcare by finding innovative solutions that make care better for people, easier for providers, and more effective for communities.”
Health Cities is a key strategic partner, providing essential resources, and ensuring the project integrates into a broader metabolic health framework.
This project is anticipated to lay the groundwork for future scaling to additional First Nations and Indigenous communities.
About My Normative:
My Normative is a health research and innovation platform disrupting the sex and gender data gap.
About Sovereign Health:
Sovereign Health was officially launched as a branch of Enoch Cree Nation in April 2025 and is advancing self-determined, culturally grounded healthcare.
About Health Cities
Health Cities is an independent Canadian not-for-profit corporation that works with clinicians, innovators, philanthropic organizations, and communities to create environments and relationships for change in primary care and health data.
