SSHRC - ECCC Indigenous Science and the Impacts of Plastic Pollution

Eligibility

Applications must be submitted by an eligible Canadian postsecondary institution or Indigenous not-for-profit organization. Applications can be submitted by a team of researchers (consisting of one project director and one or more co-directors, co-applicants, and/or collaborators). The project director prepares the application on behalf of the partner organizations of the formal partnership.

Postdoctoral researchers are eligible to be project directors if they have formally established an affiliation with an eligible institution within five months of the grant start date, and maintain such an affiliation for the duration of the grant period. Postdoctoral researchers who are affiliated with a postsecondary institution are eligible to be co-directors or co-applicants.

Partner organizations: At least one partner organization must be an Indigenous partner in Canada. Indigenous academic and non-academic organizations (including private), Indigenous governments, and Indigenous not-for-profit organizations are all welcome to partner. To promote collaboration across institutions and organizations, not-for-profit organization applicants must include at least one Canadian postsecondary institution as a partner organization. Research partnership proposals should demonstrate that project priorities have been designed through consultation with or co-developed with or initiated from Indigenous communities and/or organizations.

Other partners can be Canadian or international institutions or organizations of any type (public, private or not-for-profit). International private organizations cannot participate as a partner organization for this joint initiative.

Two categories of research partnerships can request support:

• existing partnerships to foster new research and/or research-related partnership activities that are distinct from the partnership's previous/ongoing partnership activities
• new partnerships to foster new research and/or research-related partnership activities that are undertaken by partnerships in their initial stages.

Summary

Interested in Applying? Book a Consultation with the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST)

The Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST) strengthens Indigenous research at the University of Calgary 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. You are strongly encouraged to consult with IRST before you begin an application for this funding competition.

To book a consultation with IRST, please go to their Booking Page. You can also contact IRST by email at irst@ucalgary.ca. 

Program Information

To help reduce plastic waste and pollution and progress towards a circular economy for plastics, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is partnering with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) on this joint initiative. The funding opportunity provides research funding support through Research Partnerships grants to address knowledge gaps about the potential impacts of plastic pollution on Indigenous communities through the various stages of the plastic lifecycle, focusing on social, cultural and economic impacts. Research findings will help inform evidence-based decision-making when developing future actions on plastics. Applications should demonstrate that the research project prioritizes Indigenous communities.

This joint initiative uses the definition of Indigenous science provided by ECCC's Indigenous Science Division: “a culturally specific method of accumulating knowledge, refining hypotheses, and changing practices associated with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples' deep understanding of and relationship to the natural world”. Indigenous science is “wholistic” (a term used to describe the ecosystem as a whole), and deeply braids, or weaves, new information over a longer-term perspective, while respecting expected codes of conduct and due diligence toward the collective benefit of all components, including humans, in ecosystems.

Proposed research projects must address at least one of the following research objectives, as applicable, locally or across Canada.

Theme 1 — Understanding the Potential Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Indigenous Peoples

• Investigating the potential impacts (e.g., social, cultural, and economic) of plastic waste and/or pollution on Indigenous Peoples.
• Examining Indigenous approaches to assess the potential impacts (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.) from risks of and/or exposure to plastic pollution.

Theme 2 — Indigenous Approaches to Address Plastic Pollution

• Generating knowledge based on Indigenous science and cultural approaches to address the impacts of plastic pollution on wildlife, the environment, and potentially human health (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.).
• Exploring environmental justice and Indigenous rights in relation to plastic pollution.

Institutional and partner organization contributions

Applicants are expected to include a plan to seek and secure cash and/or in-kind contributions for their initiative during the life of the grant. While there is no minimum contribution requirement, institutions and their partner organizations are expected to demonstrate that a formal partnership currently exists, or is in the process of being developed, by supporting the activities of the formal partnership.

In an effort to alleviate barriers to all communities' participation, partners not providing cash and/or in-kind contributions may explain alternative support to the partnership in their letters of support. This alternative form of contribution can include social capital, an asset that may emphasize social and familial relationships and networks and may affect the cost of research. A contribution could also include linguistic capital, such as the ability to engage in the community using its ancestral language(s) and a national language of Canada. For more information, see SSHRC's Guidelines for Cash and In-Kind Contributions.

Program Resources

• SSHRC Application Instructions
• SSHC Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research
• UCalgary Knowledge to Impact Most Significant Contributions Guide for Tri-Agency CVs

SSHRC Webinars

• French: June 26, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (MT) -- Join on Teams
• English: June 27, 2025, 8:30-10:00 a.m. (MT) -- Join on Teams

Submission Process

This competition uses the tri-agency Convergence Portal and requires use of the Tri-agency CV (TCV). You are strongly encouraged to invite participants to the application and have them complete their TCVs early in the application process to avoid unnecessary delays.

The following details are subject to change. Please check back periodically for updates.

Step 1: Notify Research Services (mandatory)

Please send an email to Katie Cupello, Senior Specialist, Strategic Research Grants (katie.cupello@ucalgary.ca) by July 11, 2025 to express your interest in applying to this program.

Step 2: Review of draft application by SUPPORT

TBD (early to mid-September)

Step 3: SSHRC Application

1. Complete your application in the Convergence Portal.
2. Once the application is complete (including all participant and partner info), go to the “Finalize Application” section and follow the prompts to submit your application. Your application will be sent to Research Services (RSO), and the status will change to Received by Administrator. Please ensure your application is final and complete. The RSO will not review drafts, and, once received, your application may be submitted to SSHRC without further notice. The final internal deadline for submission is October 9, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

Step 4: RMS Record

1. Applications must be submitted to Research Services (RSO) for institutional approval and mandatory administrative review through the Research Management System (RMS) by October 9, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
2. Complete the Pre-Award/Application record in RMS and “Submit for academic approvals” (Under Save & Progress) in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline.
3. Upon review and approval, the RSO will submit the application to NFRF.

NOTE:

• Your application will not be considered submitted and will not be reviewed until both the application is submitted in Convergence (a paper copy is not required) and the RMS Approvals have been received.
• The final deadline of October 9 is a hard deadline to ensure that Research Services is able to complete a basic review of the application and secure institutional signature in a timely fashion.

Overhead

Not applicable

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.

RESOURCES  

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be! 

 Contact the following Research Service units for support with: 

Projects Involving Indigenous Research: 

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available 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. 

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:  
Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.  

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.  
For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage. 

Research Data Management: 

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.    

EDI in Research: 

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.  

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information. 

Research Security: 

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). 

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.  

Pre-Award Submissions: 

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application