Inuit Research Network Development Grant
Aboriginal Peoples
Arctic and Northern Regions
Social Justice
Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery
Deadlines
Academic Unit: Inquire with unit
Memorial Deadline: Friday 13th, September 2019
External Deadline: Wednesday 18th, September 2019
Description
SIRI will be offering support with application development for this opportunity. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Jennifer Stevens (v5js@mun.ca) early during the development process to discuss the services available to them.
In recent years, Inuit have become increasingly involved in health research activities taking place in Inuit Nunangat (the Inuit Homeland comprised of four regions: Inuvialuit, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut). However, Inuit are not consistently involved in setting the research agenda, establishing and monitoring compliance with ethical guidelines, and determining how data and information are collected, analyzed, stored, used, and shared. Advancing Inuit governance in Inuit health research is imperative for enhancing its efficacy, impact, and relevance.
Inuit experience a disproportionate rate of some illnesses, such as tuberculosis and mental illness, and are also significantly effected by the accelerated rate of climate change in Inuit Nunangat. Inuit are best positioned to define the research priorities, methodologies and infrastructures that strengthen and build on their existing knowledge and that respect their rights. Yet investments in Inuit-led health research are scarce, and the majority of current investments “reflect a biological-physical science research bias that diminishes the prominence and attention given to other Inuit research priorities, such as health and social science” (NISR, 2018).
The National Inuit Strategy on Research (NISR), developed with Inuit and released by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) in 2018, advocates for research that empowers Inuit and meets the needs of Inuit families and communities. It describes five priority areas for Inuit research, including advancing Inuit governance in research, enhancing the ethical conduct of research, aligning funding with Inuit research priorities, ensuring Inuit access, ownership and control over data and information, and building capacity in Inuit Nunangat research.
To fulfill commitments in the CIHR Indigenous Health Research Action Plan, CIHR is committed to support ITK through a directed grant in two key areas: 1) in-house support focused on capacity building; and 2) support to develop a distinctions-based approach to a research network that aligns with the principles articulated in the NISR.
The development grant will support development and planning towards activities and priorities outlined in the NISR, such as a coordinated approach to Inuit Nunangat research, and advancing Inuit research priorities through Inuit Nunangat research governance bodies.