This Spring, the UBC Indigenous Research Support Initiative hosted a Community Dialogue and Research Exchange, bringing together Indigenous community partners and UBC researchers to delve into partnership practices and community priorities for climate research. Traveling from across the province, participants were invited to join us at the Sty-Wet-Tan Great Hall for a full-day of discussions and connections. Our guests were toured through the Indian Residential History and Dialogue Centre, and connected to other Indigenous spaces on campus. As part of the day’s events, we also honoured IRSI’s outgoing Indigenous Advisory Committee members Caleb Behn, Laurel Evans, Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi, and Leslie Bonshor.
A central theme that emerged from the group’s discussions was the need to break-down silos in university research, emphasizing respect for Indigenous perspectives and fostering meaningful, interdisciplinary collaborations. By bridging gaps between different fields of study, researchers can contribute to addressing the complex challenges identified by Indigenous partners. Support for Indigenous-led research projects was recognized as a means for researchers to deepen relationships and contribute to the enrichment of both academic and Indigenous knowledge systems. These lengthy discussions recognized the university's ongoing efforts to decolonize research practices, as well as some of the complexity of these efforts.
The dialogue also generated significant takeaways about the pressing need for capacity-building, so that Indigenous-led responses to climate research can be actualized. Group members advocated for more opportunities for Indigenous partners to convene and share about research , allowing the identification of shared challenges and opportunities. Institutions, like UBC, were also urged to play a role in supporting capacity-building efforts by providing toolkits, databases, and other resources to Indigenous partners, empowering them to lead their own research projects and initiatives. It was discussed how researcher funding, resources, and skills can be leveraged to respond to community priorities.
During the Research Exchange, we heard directly from Indigenous community partners about their climate research priorities. Priority projects and areas for advancement included ecological restoration, energy solutions, food sovereignty, community development, and well-being. The diversity of priorities highlighted the need for institutions to be proactive rather than reactive, consulting Nations on desired actions well in advance of agenda-setting. UBC researchers who were present at the Research Exchange were able to network and offer support to the priority areas that were discussed.
Click here for a downloadable summary of the Key Findings & Takeaways from the Community Dialogue and Research Exchange.
UBC IRSI facilitates collaborative research and fosters strong relationships between researchers and community partners to ensure projects are respectful and aligned with community priorities. If you’re interested in continuing these conversations, or need support as an Indigenous community partner or UBC researcher, please reach out! Our email is irsi.info@ubc.ca