Indigenous Research at the University of Waterloo
In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, the University of Waterloo (UW) 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, respect, and are grounded in relationship-building.
The Indigenous Research Team at the University of Waterloo 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.
About the Indigenous Research Team
The Indigenous Research Team is situated within the Inclusive Research Team, in the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International (OVPRI) at the University of Waterloo (UW). Our work is embedded across all three OVPRI portfolios: the Office of Research, Waterloo Ventures, and Waterloo International.
The Indigenous Research Team serves across three key areas:
- Supporting Indigenous researchers at UW in advancing their research agendas
- 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
- Leading and collaborating on strategic initiatives and policy changes to remove barriers to conducting Indigenous research in the UW research ecosystem
All of our work is underpinned by the importance of community and relationship-building as we help advance the University of Waterloo’s commitments to Reconciliation, Indigenization, and Decolonization and the Indigenous Strategic Plan, 2023-2028 in the research ecosystem.
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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
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Strategic Projects
- Implement the Indigenous research-related recommendations from the President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce (PART)
- Lead Waterloo’s commitment to supporting Indigenous Data Sovereignty
- Support the Decolonizing & Establishing Payment Practices with Indigenous Community Members project
- Provide in-depth support to ECCC Projects (Can-Peat, N-ZAP, RISE)
- Align with Goal 2: Research in the Indigenous Strategic Plan, 2023-2028
- Develop and administer the newly created Network of Indigenous Research Administrators (NIRA)
- Ensure UW’s institutional alignment with the Canada Research Coordinating Committee’s “Strengthening Indigenous Research Capacity” report
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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
The Indigenous community at Waterloo and beyond
- The Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR)
- The Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre (WISC)
- Flint Hub
- Research With Indigenous Peoples, Office of Research Ethics (ORE)
- The University of Waterloo’s commitment to decolonization, Indigenization and reconciliation
- The Indigenous Strategic Plan, 2023-2028
- Six Nations Polytechnic & the Indigenous Knowledge Centre (Deyohahá:ge)