MP Larry Bagnell announces SSHRC Indigenous Connection Grant for Yukon College

WHITEHORSE—The Government of Canada is committed to renewing its relationship with Indigenous peoples—one based on the recognition of rights, respect, collaboration and partnership. When we recognize Indigenous rights and traditional knowledge, we are helping close the gaps in social, health, environmental and economic outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Today, Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, highlighted one of the recipients of grants of up to $50,000 for projects to identify new ways of doing research with Indigenous communities. This announcement of the first round of Indigenous Research Capacity and Reconciliation—Connection Grants demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting interdisciplinary Indigenous research that helps advance our understanding of reconciliation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit. 

The Yukon College, one of several institutions across Canada to benefit from the investment Minister Duncan announced on January 14, 2019, will receive $46,848 to support the capacity of Yukon First Nation communities to conduct research and partner with the broader research community in the areas of: reconciliation; Indigenous knowledge; Indigenous worldviews; research ethics, and bridging knowledges.

The Connection Grants are part of the Budget 2018 commitment of $5.6 million to support development of a strategic plan that identifies new ways of doing research with Indigenous communities, including strategies to support the capacity of Indigenous communities to conduct research and partner with the broader research community.

Quotes

“First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada have been kept on the sidelines of Canadian research too long. That’s why we are working to ensure that Canada’s research funding and policies benefit everyone, including Indigenous peoples, as full participants. Our government understands the value of Indigenous research and respects all the dimensions of knowledge about the connections between people, places and the natural environment.”

– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport

“These grants are an investment in a fundamental change that recognizes the value of traditional knowledge systems. The importance of research that truly includes Yukon First Nation worldviews and experience is key to sustainable social and economic development in the North.

– Hon. Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon

“This funding provides an opportunity for Yukon College to work with the 14 Yukon First Nations and a number of Elders to examine the ethics review process - a very western approach to research – and discuss how to integrate Indigenous world views, particularly Indigenous perspectives on land and water, into a foundational post-secondary research process.”

– Tosh Southwick, Associate Vice President Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation, Yukon College

“We were extremely pleased to see incredible interest in this new initiative as demonstrated by the high quantity and quality of grant proposals from Indigenous organizations and researchers. The federal granting agencies are proud to be at the forefront of the mission to increase the capacity of Indigenous communities to conduct research and partner with the broader research enterprise.”

–Ted Hewitt, Chair of the Canada Research Coordinating Committee and President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Quick facts

• The new Indigenous Research Capacity and Reconciliation—Connection Grants were open to researchers at Indigenous and non-Indigenous not-for-profit organizations and at post-secondary institutions.
• The grants are designed to support the Canada Research Coordinating Committee’s resolve to drive a national dialogue to co-develop—with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities—an interdisciplinary, Indigenous training model that contributes to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. 
• The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is administering this initiative in collaboration with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
• Over the past year, SSHRC has been engaging with Indigenous organizations and researchers at roundtables, at workshops and online.
• These grants support the engagement activities of those Indigenous organizations and the development of position papers that will be shared at a national dialogue event in spring 2019.

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