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Community engagement

There is a wide range of existing relationships between ÍøºìºÚÁÏ researchers and Indigenous communities across Turtle Island, including researchers who are members of the communities with whom they are working.Ìý

Research involving Indigenous communities

For anyone interested in engaging in Indigenous research, it is critical to have guidance and agreement from appropriate representatives in the traditional territories where the research is concerned.

First Nation, Métis, and Inuit governments, as well as many Indigenous communities and organizations, often have formal channels and/or protocols for potential research partnerships. It is essential for the researcher to have knowledge and awareness regarding the specific community’s culture, language, governance structure, and research priorities before initiating research. Additionally, all outreach activities with prospective community and organizational partners should be documented so that the information can be included in a community engagement plan and report.Ìý

Indigenous research involving humans: scope and process [PDF - 191 KB]

Responsible engagement

Researchers must seek engagement with the relevant Indigenous Community when the research is likely to impact their welfare.Ìý

The following conditions require community engagement, among others:

  • research conducted on First Nations, Inuit or Métis lands;

  • recruitment criteria that include Indigenous identity as a factor for the entire study or for a subgroup in the study;

  • research that seeks input from participants regarding a community's cultural heritage, artefacts, traditional knowledge or unique characteristics;

  • research in which Indigenous identity or membership in an Indigenous community is used as a variable for the purpose of analysis of the research data; and

  • interpretation of research results that will refer to Indigenous communities, peoples, language, history or culture.

, Chapter 9, Article 9.2 provides examples of the nature and extent of community engagement.

Regional organizations

aims to support Indigenous-led health research in Atlantic Canada. They provide resources for Indigenous early career researchers and trainees and have created a guide for Indigenous people who want to pursue health-related programs at the post-secondary level.Ìý
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of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat is a policy research and advocacy Secretariat for 33 Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Innu Chiefs, Nations and Communities.

The APC Secretariat follows a relationship vision that concentrates on partnership and cooperation, government to government relationships, dialogue and education, quality of life, and self-determination in First Nations Communities.