Indigenous Innovation and Leadership in Research Network Grants—Stage 1: October 2025 Competition

Aboriginal Peoples

Arctic and Northern Regions

Community, Regional & Enterprise Development

Creative Arts, Culture and Heritage

Environment, Energy and Natural Resources

Governance and Public Policy

Information and Communication Technology

Oceans, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Social Justice

Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery

Deadlines

Academic Unit: Inquire with unit

Memorial Deadline: Wednesday 29th, October 2025

External Deadline: Tuesday 4th, November 2025

Description

Deadline extended to Tuesday, November 4th, 8 p.m. (eastern)

The tri-agency Indigenous Innovation and Leadership in Research Network Grants aligns with the tri-agency strategic plan Setting New Directions to Support Indigenous research and research training in Canada as well as Indigenous communities’ aspirations to help create a new model for Indigenous-led, transformative research.

Indigenous Innovation and Leadership in Research Network Grants are valued at a total investment of $19 million over four years, for the following categories of Métis, First Nations, and Indigenous not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous institutions serving more than one distinction:

All grants for this funding opportunity are reserved for:

• First Nations or Métis not-for-profit organizations
• First Nations or Métis postsecondary institutions
• Indigenous not-for-profit organizations serving more than one distinction
• Indigenous postsecondary institutions serving more than one distinction

Federal budget commitment for Inuit research will be allocated through a separate funding mechanism.

This call for proposals affirms and seeks to build on Indigenous knowledge systems and Indigenous ontology, epistemology and methodology. Networks are encouraged to be wholistic, reflecting the full range of collaboration across disciplines and subject areas pertaining to the social sciences and humanities; natural sciences and engineering; and health and wellness.

By leveraging research already underway in Indigenous communities, these grants will support decolonized research and training in Canada. The grants respond specifically to the following elements in the Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada strategy:

• – supporting the research priorities of Indigenous Peoples;
• – championing Indigenous leadership, self-determination, and capacities in research;
• – recognizing Indigenous ways of knowing as an integral part of valid and authoritative research;
• – supporting Indigenous-led strategies and structures that address respectful and mutually beneficial data management and intellectual property rights in Indigenous research; and
• – decolonization of Indigenous research through the development of clear structures and resources for Indigenous Peoples to build research capacity, including creating greater funding accessibility to granting agency programs.

Webinar

See here for more information

Funding Sources

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)