Grants and Contributions

This project will examine how collaborative wildlife monitoring in the Northwest Territories can better integrate Indigenous governance, Indigenous data sovereignty, and Western scientific approaches to support shared wildlife stewardship goals. Through partnerships within the Northwest Territories Biodiversity Monitoring Program, the research will explore data governance practices and use wildlife monitoring data to assess how culturally important ungulates and game birds respond to wildfire disturbances.

This project will establish a community-led water monitoring program in Qikiqtarjuaq to address concerns about drinking water quality and the potential impacts of climate change on local freshwater sources. By training local youth and community members to monitor bacteria and aquatic indicators of water quality, the project will build local capacity, generate community-owned knowledge, and assess the safety of both municipal and traditional water sources.

This project will partner with Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN) to identify and study ancient ice patches in Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon, where artifacts and evidence of Indigenous hunting activities have been preserved for thousands of years. By combining CAFN knowledge with archaeological surveys, satellite imagery, and field investigations, the project will recover and document cultural heritage at risk from climate-driven ice melt while ensuring Indigenous leadership in research and stewardship. The project will also foster intergenerational knowledge sharing through community activities, helping to strengthen cultural connections, northern research capacity, and the preservation of Yukon’s Indigenous history.

This project will co-develop a community-based wildlife health surveillance framework with Yukon First Nation governments to support monitoring of wildlife health, food safety, and emerging disease risks in a changing Arctic environment. Using a One Health approach that connects human, animal, and environmental health, the project will bring together Indigenous knowledge holders, harvesters, youth, researchers, and governments to identify priorities, develop monitoring tools, and guide data collection and interpretation.

This project will examine the experiences of Indigenous nursing graduates in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to better understand barriers and supports related to completing licensing exams required for professional nursing practice. Guided by an Indigenous Nurse Research Advisory Council and informed by interviews with Indigenous nursing graduates, the project will develop recommendations to strengthen nursing education, exam preparation, and student success in the North. By supporting Indigenous representation and leadership in healthcare, the project aims to enhance the northern health workforce, improve culturally safe care, and build long-term local capacity in the health sector.

This project will explore how Kalaallit (Greenlandic Inuit) learners experience safety, belonging, and inclusion in educational settings by examining the role of Indigenous identity, language, and culture in shaping learning experiences.

This project will support the Tundra Science and Culture Camp, an immersive eight-day educational program that brings together high school students, educators, researchers, and Tłı̨chǫ knowledge holders to learn about tundra ecosystems, Indigenous culture, environmental stewardship, and northern science. Through hands-on field experiences, cultural activities, and inquiry-based learning at the Tundra Ecosystem Research Station, participants develop knowledge of Arctic landscapes, wildlife, resource management, and traditional knowledge. The program strengthens cross-cultural understanding, builds northern capacity in science and environmental education, and inspires future careers in natural sciences, environmental studies, and related fields.

This project will expand wildlife and environmental monitoring programs into a remote area of the Mackenzie Mountains in the Northwest Territories to improve understanding of caribou populations, water quality, bird biodiversity, lichen habitat, and fish habitat.

This project will make the findings from the Kuugalaaq Cultural Campus research in Cambridge Bay more accessible to the community by transforming climate, energy, and environmental data into engaging, Inuinnaqtun-forward communication tools, including infographics, cultural designs, and interactive digital content. By embedding NFC technology throughout the campus, community members will be able to access information about sustainable infrastructure, climate adaptation, and environmental stewardship simply by tapping their phones on site features. The project will enhance community understanding of local climate research, promote cultural and linguistic inclusion, and support Inuit self-determination and innovation in Arctic research and knowledge sharing.

This project will update and expand Traditional Ecological Knowledge on Inuit Owned Lands near Rankin Inlet by documenting Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and identifying valued ecological components, particularly wildlife and their habitats, to support informed land management and decision-making. By combining Inuit knowledge with innovative environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, the project will map and verify the presence of key species such as caribou, bears, foxes, and waterfowl while enhancing understanding of ecological change over time.