Indigenous research at Laurentian University received a boost Friday when Nickel Bet MP Marc Serré announced federal funding for a new Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health.
In addition, Laurentian announced its new Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute, and a new Advancing Indigenous Research Fund to accelerate Indigenous specific research.
“Laurentian University has been committed to enhancing Indigenous research capacity and increasing Indigenous research activities and we are thrilled to be making strides in this strategic direction,” Dr. Rui Wang, vice-president of research, is quoted as saying in a news release. “All three events announced today will significantly impact on the capacity and quality of Indigenous research at Laurentian and we look forward to continuing this momentum.”
Dr. Jennifer Walker has been appointed Laurentian University’s first Canada Research Chair specializing in Indigenous health. Her collaborative research with First Nation and Métis communities and organizations will use population level data on health conditions and services across the life span, with a focus on chronic illness and older populations.
The research aims to improve the use of Indigenous-specific health data for health services and policy planning.
“I am looking forward to supporting Indigenous partners to effectively use health data and the impact our extensive research will have. Indigenous people see wellness holistically and as a reflection of overall health,” Walker said in the release.
“By making sure we view existing data through an Indigenous lens, we hope it will be used as ‘medicine to heal’ and be leveraged for the benefit of overall well-being of Indigenous people and communities. This research will could potentially have tremendous impact on the health of future generations of Indigenous peoples as well as communities throughout northern Ontario.”
To initiate university-wide collaborative Indigenous research, Laurentian has established the Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI). MIRI’s primary focus will be on pursuing and promoting social and cultural Indigenous research through collaboration and working with community partners.
“The word 'maamwizing' means ‘coming together’ or ‘collaborating together’ in Anishinaabe,” Dr. Sheila Côté-Meek, associate vice-president, academic and indigenous programs. “Following a successful inaugural Maamwizing conference last month, the Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute will continue to raise the profile of Indigenous research and help support the development of new expertise for our communities.”
As part of Laurentian’s commitment to fostering research, an Advancing Indigenous Research Fund (AIR Fund) has been created, $100,000 annually, to specifically support Indigenous research initiatives at Laurentian University. Through strategic investments, the AIR Fund will help foster meaningful and longstanding relations and explore solutions to the unique challenges faced by Indigenous peoples.
