Genome Canada 2026 Enabling Canada's Bio Revolution in Natural Resources Management - Stream 3: Indigenous Data Governance Frameworks

Eligibility

*This posting will be updated when more detailed information about the application process becomes available from Genome Canada.

• Projects must demonstrate that Indigenous communities (First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit) have been meaningfully engaged in scoping the work prior to application. Evidence of this engagement, such as records of community meetings and/or other nation-appropriate consultation processes, must be included in the LOI, in addition to a letter of support from an Indigenous partner organization.

• Project leaders and team members must be affiliated with an eligible institution.

• Projects are expected to support capacity building for Indigenous communities and organizations, as well as learning for researchers and institutions, to enable sustained implementation of Indigenous-led governance beyond the funding period.

• Activities must be directly aligned with the objective of developing Indigenous data governance guidelines for genomic research in natural resources.

• Genome Canada funding can be awarded to individuals affiliated with an Indigenous organization and/or government, or with an organization listed in Genome Canada's Guidelines for Funding.

Summary

We are in the midst of a bio-revolution, fuelled by rapid advances in genomic sequencing speed and scale, alongside artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that make it possible to analyze and train on vast volumes of genomic data. High-quality, standardized genomic and natural resources data enable earlier detection of ecological change and more adaptive, evidence-based management.

Countries and industries that can integrate these capabilities into natural resources management and biodiversity protection will set the global standard, growing their economies while building environmental resilience for the long-term, and be best positioned to protect their populations and ecosystems from emerging biological threats.

Genome Canada's natural resources initiative will enable earlier detection of ecological change, more adaptive resource management and more effective regulatory and stewardship decisions. It will grow a coordinated, interoperable and responsibly governed natural resources genomics data ecosystem that supports next generation resource management and environmental protection while respecting and investing in Indigenous data governance and sovereignty. For more information, please see the initiative overview.

The Initiative will be deployed through three streams:

• Stream 1: Driver Projects
  • Will produce high-quality, standardized, AI-ready genomic datasets 
• Stream 2: National Genomics Data Hub
  • Will establish a national genomics data hub in natural resources that provides standards and infrastructure needed for long-term impact
• Stream 3: Indigenous Data Governance Frameworks
  • Will facilitate the development of Indigenous-led, distinctions-=based governance frameworks

Stream 3: Indigenous Data Governance Frameworks

Genome Canada will invest up to $3M to facilitate the development of Indigenous-led, distinctions-based governance frameworks, co-developed with relevant rights holders. These frameworks will develop concrete tools and resources by which Indigenous genomic and environmental data, knowledge and assets are owned, accessed, utilized, shared and ultimately stewarded within, and where appropriate, beyond the initiative. Through collaborative partnerships with Indigenous rightsholders, these projects will integrate data sovereignty principles for First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. This approach is consistent with established frameworks such as OCAP®, OCAS, CARE, and UNDRIP, promoting ethical governance that is culturally rooted and community defined. Indigenous rightsholders retain full authority to make decisions regarding the use of their data, ensuring the preservation of their rights and responsibilities.

The frameworks should incorporate guiding principles rooted in Indigenous data sovereignty and operating principles that recognize how Indigenous communities interact with the species, water and lands involved in the research. These projects will include engagement frameworks and practical tools to help researchers, data stewards and other stakeholders apply the guidelines effectively.

Across the three streams, the initiative will align investments in data governance, data generation and data usability and access to build a coherent, trusted natural resources genomics data ecosystem that supports real-world decision-making while respecting Indigenous authority. Together, the streams ensure that Indigenous governance tools inform how data is generated and stewarded, and that infrastructure and processes. 

SUBMISSION PROCESS

The application process consists of two stages: 

1. Letter of Intent (LOI)

2. Full application - on invitation only

For the LOI, applicants will be asked to briefly describe:

• Proposed guidelines

• Summary of community engagement conducted to date, including which Indigenous nations or communities were engaged, in what form, and how that engagement shaped the proposed scope

• Budget summary

Applicants who are deemed eligible will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Individuals interested in participating or who have questions should contact Julie Greer at Genome Alberta (GAB) at jgreer@genomealberta.ca (cc Research Services at ipd@ucalgary.ca). Letter of Intent forms and instructions will be provided by GAB to interested applicants.

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

Timeline

• Activity:       Submit Letter of Intent (LOI) to GAB and Research Services; approvals within RMS

  • email to jgreer@genomealberta.ca, cc ipd@ucalgary.ca

  Deadline:    November 2026

• Activity:       Invitation to full application 

   

  Deadline:    Within 10 bus. days of LOI submission to Genome Canada

• Activity:       Submit draft full proposal and budget (no signatures required) to Research Services 

  • email to ipd@ucalgary.ca, cc jgreer@genomealberta.ca

  Deadline:    January 2027

• Activity:       Submit final full proposal and budget to Research Services for final review; approvals within RMS

  • email to ipd@ucalgary.ca, cc jgreer@genomealberta.ca

  Deadline:    1 week before final full proposal deadline to GAB below

• Activity:       Submit final full proposal (including signatures) to Genome Alberta 

  • email to jgreer@genomealberta.ca, cc ipd@ucalgary.ca

     Deadline:            February 2027

Overhead

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via RMS, 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.

Genome Alberta will offer an information webinar on:

• June 29, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Register using this link.

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.

Initiative Overview

Genome Canada's Guidelines for Funding

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI