The purpose of this training is twofold.
This first module explores Indigenous worldviews and knowledge systems, provides a historical overview of research conducted with Indigenous peoples, and addresses what we refer to as the “boundaries” of research in Indigenous contexts: languages, territories, identities, and perspectives, as well as the effects of Canada’s linguistic reality on research dynamics.
The second module examines the normative and legal frameworks that currently govern research in Indigenous contexts, from international commitments to university policies. It presents the governance structures of First Nations and Inuit communities, the tools developed by Indigenous organizations themselves, and the issues surrounding data governance.
The third module is based on a review of the scientific literature exploring the practical experiences of researchers who have worked in Indigenous contexts. It presents the recurring challenges identified by researchers working in Indigenous contexts, as well as proposed solutions for the various stages of the research cycle.
Whether you are a faculty member at the beginning or in the middle of your career, and regardless of your discipline, this training is for you. The issues addressed span all fields of knowledge—from the social sciences and humanities to the health sciences, including the natural sciences, archaeology, museology, and the environmental sciences. The training helps you recognize the most common pitfalls and avoid them.
Whether you are in graduate or undergraduate studies, if your work focuses on Indigenous realities, knowledge, or territories, this program provides you with the foundation you need to approach your research with rigor. It will help you better understand the responsibilities, relationships, and principles that should guide a research project from its inception.
Research in Indigenous contexts does not take place solely at the university level. It is also conducted within organizations, governments, specialized firms, and Indigenous communities themselves. If you are conducting research or projects involving Indigenous partners outside the strictly academic setting, this training will provide you with guidance that is directly applicable to your practice.
Wolastoqey Nation, Wahsipekuk Community
Professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Moncton and Special Research Advisor at the Ashukan Institute.
Innu from the Mashteuiatsh community
President and founder of the Ashukan Institute.
Together, they invite you to approach this training not as a list of rules to follow, but as a space for reflection—a space to examine the foundations of your own practices, embrace uncertainty, and recognize the paramount importance of relationships in research conducted in Indigenous contexts.
