Indigenous Research

Indigenous Research at the University of Waterloo

The Indigenous Research Team logo featuring a stylized design of a strawberry plant surrounded by a ring of braided sweetgrass to represent the four work areas of the team.

The Indigenous Research Team

In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, the University of Waterloo acknowledges the historical and contemporary challenges Indigenous Peoples, Nations, and Communities face with academic research and the ongoing legacies of colonialism across the research ecosystem. We are committed to advancing reconciliation and decolonization by shifting our focus to supporting research with, by, and for Indigenous communities in ways which emphasize reciprocity, relevance, responsibility, and respect, and are grounded in relationship-building.

The Indigenous Research Team is situated within the Inclusive Research Team, in the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International (OVPRI) at Waterloo. Our work is embedded across all three OVPRI portfolios: the Office of Research, Waterloo Ventures, and Waterloo International. The Indigenous Research Team is responsible for supporting and strengthening Indigenous research capacity at the university and beyond. This page offers more information about the Indigenous Research Team, the ways we support researchers and special projects in the research ecosystem, and resources and upcoming events related to Indigenous research.

Our key work areas

The Indigenous Research Team serves across four key areas:

  1. Supporting Indigenous researchers at Waterloo in advancing their research agendas
  2. Advising and offering learning opportunities and tools to non-Indigenous researchers, staff and students who wish to or are currently engaged with Indigenous Nations, Communities or people in a research context
  3. Leading and collaborating on strategic initiatives and policy changes to remove barriers to conducting Indigenous research in the Waterloo research ecosystem
  4. Relationship and community building within the University and beyond

All of our work is underpinned by our values of building foundational understandings, relationships and community as we help advance Waterloo’s commitments to Reconciliation, Indigenization and Decolonization, and the Indigenous Strategic Plan, 2023-2028 in the research ecosystem.

The Indigenous Research Team logo featuring a stylized design of a strawberry plant with blue leaves rooted in soil to represent the supports provided to Indigenous faculty, students, and staff in a research context.

Blue flower

Ways we support Indigenous faculty, staff and students

  • Support their research agendas, through grant writing assistance, research administration and project management, knowledge mobilization, and community organizing 
  • Guide the UW research ecosystem and research-related processes  
  • Help address and overcome barriers while navigating the institutional environment at UW and beyond
  • Connect researchers to resources, groups, or people 
  • Alert researchers about funding opportunities and nominate them for potential awards 
  • Advocate on their behalf when dealing with various offices on campus
The Indigenous Research Team logo featuring a stylized design of a strawberry plant with pink leaves rooted in soil to represent special projects that allow Indigenous Research at UW and beyond to flourish.

Pink flower

Strategic Projects

The Indigenous Research Team logo featuring a stylized design of a strawberry plant with pink leaves rooted in soil to represent the supports provided to non-Indigenous faculty, students, and staff to prepare to collaborate with Indigenous Nations and Communities in research.

Purple flower

Ways we support non-Indigenous faculty, students and staff

  • Help researchers understand what Indigenous research is, and identify additional considerations in their research projects 
  • Provide advice on engaging with Indigenous Peoples, Nations, and Communities (i.e., First Nations, Inuit, and Métis on Turtle Island) in a research context
  • Review grant proposals and applications from an Indigenous research lens
  • Offer consultations for researchers at every stage of a research project that includes Indigenous partners or an Indigenous research component
  • Share guidance on wise practices in the development of Community-Based Research Agreements, MOUs or Data Sharing Agreements that respect Indigenous Data Sovereignty, respectful and culturally-informed knowledge mobilization practices, and more
  • Create and facilitate customized learning opportunities, tools, and capacity-building sessions on Indigenous research related topics and issues
  • Connect researchers to additional resources to support their continued learning journeys, including the Office of Indigenous Relations

Indigenous Research FAQs

Learn more about Indigenous research and the supports provided by the Indigenous Research Team

Access the Inclusive Research Resource Hub

The Hub is a curated list of inclusive research resources on various topics including Indigenous research, Indigenous Data Sovereignty and wise practices in community engagement.

Highlighting Indigenous Research at Waterloo

Learn More about Indigenous Research across campus