SSHRC Reconciliation Network in Response to Call to Action 65 2023

Eligibility

This joint initiative is designated for research projects led by First Nations, Métis Nation or Inuit researchers as lead applicant (Project Director). The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and SSHRC recognize the experience of northern Inuit communities, and encourage Inuit-led teams to submit proposals focusing on the realities of the Inuit Nunangat.

First Nations, Métis Nation or Inuit postdoctoral researchers are eligible to be applicants if they have formally established an affiliation with an eligible institution at the time of application and maintain such an affiliation for the duration of the grant period.  Students are not eligible for applicant or co-applicant status.

This is a partnership opportunity, supporting new or existing formal partnerships which include one or more partner organizations.

Summary

In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Call to Action 65, the Reconciliation Network in Response to Call to Action 65 is a joint initiative between the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and SSHRC. This unique opportunity supports establishment of a national research program with multiyear funding to advance collective understanding of reconciliation.

SSHRC and the NCTR invite teams led by First Nations, Métis Nation or Inuit researchers to submit proposals for new or existing formal partnerships that contribute to our collective understanding of truth and reconciliation. Grants will provide support for partnerships over five years to advance research, research training and knowledge mobilization in the social sciences and humanities. Proposals can involve any disciplines, thematic areas, approaches or subject areas eligible for SSHRC funding.

As part of the Reconciliation Network, the teams funded under this initiative will participate in coordination activities managed by the NCTR in its role as coordination hub for the network. Teams will participate in:

• regular dialogue and networking among projects, under the guidance of the Reconciliation Network Coordination Hub;
• knowledge mobilization activities, which may include podcasts, conference panels, etc.;
• any conferences organized by the Reconciliation Network Coordination Hub, which may also result in publication of public reports exploring and highlighting research achievements; and
• activities to support the success of the network and the promotion of interactions between teams.

APPLICANT/TEAM

Proposals will be led by a Project Director, and may include one or more co-directors, co-applicants and/or collaborators, and will include partner organizations which may or may not included the host institution (the University of Calgary).  Applicants are also invited to consult the NCTR’s list of partner organizations to expand their collaborations.

As this initiative supports Indigenous-led projects by Indigenous applicants, all applicants will be asked to self-identify. To help address concerns regarding the use of self-identification as a sole selection criterion for opportunities designated for First Nations, Métis Nation and Inuit applicants, applicants will also be required to:

• provide a brief overview of their community’s history;
• describe their personal ties and experience in their community; and
• provide a contact from their community should a follow-up be required.

Partner organizations can be Canadian or international institutions or organizations (public, private, not-for-profit) of any type. Indigenous organizations, Indigenous governments and Indigenous not-for-profit organizations are all welcome to partner. 

Although partner organizations are normally expected to support the activities of the partnership through cash and/or in-kind contributions, in an effort to alleviate barriers to all communities’ participation, partners unable to provide cash and/or in-kind contributions may explain alternative support in their letters. This support can include social capital—an asset that may emphasize social and familial relationships and networks and may affect the cost of research—and/or linguistic capital, such as the ability to engage in the community using its ancestral language(s) and a national language of Canada.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Institutional and agency milestones are listed below, additional instructions follow.

Notes re: partner organizations (updated March 9): this program will support new or existing formal partnerships.  Partner organizations do not require an invitation through the application portal, but are required to provide a letter of support.

• Partner organizations must be listed in the online application.  The Project Director must attach a letter of support from each partner organization listed.

• Proposals may or may not include the University of Calgary as a partner organization, or organizational units within the university (e.g. a single faculty) as a partner organization.  If the University of Calgary is to be an invited partner organization, Research Services will review and secure the Vice-President (Research’s) signature on a required letter of support.

This is a one-stage application process.  Applications must be submitted via the Convergence portal (not the SSHRC portal).

Timeline

Phase: Intent to apply

• Activity:       Notify Research Services of intent to apply to Research Services at ipd@ucalgary.ca; this will allow Research Services staff to offer early support services (including templates, guidance re: eligibility, and optional reviews)

         Deadline:    As soon as possible

Phase: Application development

• Activity:       PI and team develop draft application

         Deadline:    to 9:00am, Wednesday, May 10, 2023

• Activity:       If UCalgary is to be a partner organization: PI submits draft Letter of Support (and back-up documentation regarding any cash or in-kind contributions) to Research Services for review, approval and VP (Research) signature

         Deadline:    to 9:00am, Monday, April 17, 2023

Phase: Application review and finalization

• Activity:       PI submits draft application (via the Convergence portal) for optional detailed review. (Application can be returned within the portal for editing prior to final submission to SSHRC.)

         Deadline:    by 9:00am, Monday, May 1, 2023

• Activity:       PI submits final application (via the Convergence portal) for required administrative review and sign-off.  All RMS approvals complete

         Deadline:    by 9:00am, Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Phase: Submission

• Activity:       Research Services submits final application to SSHRC

         Deadline:    by May 15, 2023 (6pm MT)

Approvals will be required via the Research Management System (RMS).  Use the “SSHRC Reconciliation Network in Response to Call to Action 65 2023” funding opportunity, and (once complete) be sure to select "Submitted for approvals" (Under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the Research Services deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. A step sheet for creating an application record in RMS is available in the Resources section below.

RESOURCES

Notify Research Services as soon as possible regarding the intent to apply.  This will ensure RSO can offer support materials and services appropriate for the partnership.

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

For knowledge engagement or knowledge mobilization support:

Contact the Knowledge Engagement Team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca.

For assistance in identifying international partners, contact the International Research Team at UCIresearch@ucalgary.ca.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

OVERHEAD: N/A

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

SSHRC’s application instructions are available here, and a list of valuable resources from SSHRC is here.

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Webinar: a webinar was offered on February 14, 2023; a copy of the slide deck is available here.

For UCalgary researchers participating on applications elsewhere: If a letter of support is requested from the University of Calgary (i.e. if UCalgary will be an invited partner institution), approval via RMS is required.  The institutional contact is Dr. Kirsten Exall, Director of Institutional Programs, Research Services. If no letter is requested, Research Services appreciates notification re: your participation but no approvals are required. 

RMS Training

As the full application will run through RMS, we encourage applicants to view the step sheets available at the RMS Training page. 

For training or technical support, you can contact RMS at: rms@ucalgary.ca and 403.210.9309.

Selection criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate full applications (see competition website for details):

• Challenge—The aim and importance of the endeavour (40%)
• Feasibility—The plan to achieve excellence (30%)
• Capability—The expertise to succeed (30%)