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Message from the Vice-President Research, SSHRC

I am pleased to draw your attention to a unique opportunity to influence how Indigenous research and research training is conducted in Canada.

Canada’s three federal research funding agencies—the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council—and the Canada Foundation for Innovation are seeking expressions of interest from First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples to participate in an Indigenous Leadership Circle in Research (Leadership Circle). The Leadership Circle will advise the four organizations in implementing the Canada Research Coordinating Committee’s (CRCC) strategic plan, Setting New Directions to Support Indigenous Research and Research Training in Canada 2019-2022.

The four organizations are seeking a minimum of 10 individuals to serve as members of the Leadership Circle until the end of 2022. Collectively, members are expected to have a deep cultural understanding of First Nations, Inuit and Métis research and research training practices, including Indigenous Knowledges, to help advance the strategic plan’s four strategic directions. Considering your expertise and experience, we thought that you might either be interested, or know individuals who might be interested, in this opportunity.

While membership is voluntary, expenses will be reimbursed and honoraria may be paid to members who do not have paid employment.

Interested individuals are invited to submit a two- to three-page freeform application that:

• confirms they are of Indigenous ancestry;
• outlines the experience and perspectives they have that would contribute to the Leadership Circle;
• explains how being part of the Leadership Circle would benefit them and their community, collective and/or organization; and
• is accompanied by a letter of support from their community.

The deadline for applications is January 15, 2021. Appointments to the Leadership Circle will be announced in winter 2021.

Consult the call for expressions of interest for further details. In an effort to strengthen Indigenous research and increase collaboration, you are invited to share this opportunity with your networks and communities.

Secondly, I am thrilled to let you know that we recently welcomed Nico Paul as Director, Indigenous Strategy within the Research Programs directorate.  Please feel free to contact Nico with any questions regarding this call for expressions of interest.  He can be reached at Indigenous-Autochtone@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Dominique Bérubé, Ph.D.
Vice-President Research
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council