Indigenous Research Support Team
Engage with Research
Supporting Indigenous Research Values
The Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST) strengthens Indigenous research at UCalgary by providing resources, consultations, and collaborative support. We foster a reciprocal, culturally responsive approach to Indigenous research, ensuring it aligns with ethical best practices, Indigenous priorities, and institutional commitments.
Rooted in ii’ taa’poh’to’p, UCalgary’s Indigenous Strategy, IRST works to ensure that Indigenous Research is reciprocal, respectful, and community-informed. IRST began in 2019 with the identification of several challenges being overcome by Indigenous faculty members and within research that is carried out in Indigenous environments.
This institutional commitment to Indigenous research continues to be reconfirmed by university leadership, as demonstrated by the explicit focus on Indigenous research in UCalgary’s 2023-30 Strategic Plan, Ahead of Tomorrow. In response to these priorities, the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST) was formed to forward the goals of ii’taa’poh’to’p and UCalgary’s research community with the recognition that Indigenous research is a scholarly specialization that demands additional expertise, resources, and relationships than what is typically required of researchers. Accordingly, a foundational goal of IRST is to support Indigenous researchers and Indigenous research done well at UCalgary.
Our Priorities
1. Supporting UCalgary Researchers in Indigenous Research
- Building researcher knowledge of Tri-Agency and UCalgary Indigenous research policies
- Strengthening understanding of ethical and wise practices in Indigenous research
- Developing resources and tools for researchers
- Providing training and workshops
2. Supporting Indigenous Peoples, Communities, and Organizations
- Creating resources to enhance Indigenous community understanding of university research processes
- Facilitating connections between Indigenous communities and researchers
- Supporting the development of culturally responsive research agreements and policies
- Providing communications and media outreach through our bi-monthly newsletter
- Providing training and workshops
Researchers and Academics
IRST is an advisory entity that can provide guidance to researchers and scholars on the proper processes to adhere to within Indigenous research. IRST is a University of Calgary facing resource for those conducting and supporting Indigenous research.
We can assist researchers and scholars in the field of Indigenous research by:
- Providing consultations and guidance on wise practices in Indigenous research
- Supporting the development of Indigenous research grants and ethics applications
- Identifying funding opportunities
- Offering specialized training opportunities on community engagement, human participant ethics, proposal writing for Indigenous research, and Indigenous data sovereignty practices
The Strategy
Launched in 2017, ii' taa'poh'to'p guides the University of Calgary on its path to truth and reconciliation. The realization of ii' taa'poh'to'p will require patience, dedication, ongoing dialogue and thoughtful reflection. Reconciliation will be an ongoing process for many years — perhaps generations.
IRST Resources
The Indigenous Research Support Team assists and strengthens Indigenous-related research capacity at UCalgary. Learn more about Indigenous research, Indigenous community engagement, Indigenous research ethics, Indigenous data stewardship and sovereignty, Indigenous Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and research with Treaty 7 communities and organizations.
