First progress report on implementation of the strategic plan to strengthen Indigenous research capacity in Canada

The Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) has released the first progress report on the implementation of the interagency strategic plan, Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada.

The interagency strategic plan for Indigenous research and research training was launched in 2020, following extensive engagement with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, collectives and organizations.

Building the Foundation provides highlights of recent progress, including the development of new governance structures and advisory bodies to support meaningful and systemic change. Guided by the strategy’s four key principles—self-determination, decolonization of research, accountability, and equitable access—the agencies have created new platforms to establish and promote Indigenous leadership in research, while streamlining interagency collaboration on new policies and approaches.

At the centre of the year’s work was the establishment of three strategic working groups:

1. the tri-agency Indigenous Funding Opportunities Working Group
2. a tri-agency working group focused on addressing administrative barriers to Indigenous community-led research
3. the Reference Group for the Appropriate Review of Indigenous Research