Dechinta Land-­Based University Partnership Development Grant

A PhD Student is required for a 1-3 year commitment to assist with tasks and activities associated with a SSHRC-funded research project focused on developing an institutional structure for a land- based university. Students with research interests and background in the areas of Indigenous education and governance, decolonization theory and methodologies, policy analysis, institutional development, Northern studies, cultural anthropology, public health, development studies, and indigenous research methods are encouraged to apply.

Dechinta land-based university is located at Blachford Lake Lodge, 220km east of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, on the traditional territory of the Yellowknives Dene. The program blends land based cultural activities and knowledge with university courses accredited by university partners. Courses are co-taught by Indigenous knowledge holders and university professors. The purpose of the program is to provide students with a university level learning experience grounded in Indigenous cosmologies and cultural practice.

The PhD Student will be expected to assist the principal investigator with developing the institutional model for Dechinta through:

1. Conducting on-site evaluative research of Dechinta course delivery and institutional practices;
2. Researching and developing land-based university curricula, and co-teaching a Dechinta course with a land-based knowledge expert; and,
3. Assisting with administrative duties related to the research project.

Expectations associated with this position will be identified through a work plan and be consistent with SSHRC guidelines for research student funding. Remuneration for this position is $15,000.00 per year.

CLOSING DATE: June 10, 2011

For further information about Dechinta: dechinta.ca

Please direct inquiries to:

Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox, PhD
Principal Investigator, Dechinta Partnership Development Grant
Email: sirlbach@ualberta.ca

Send resumes with a cover letter and names of three references (2 academic, one work experience) to:

Kyla Kakfwi Scott
Program Manager, Dechinta
Email: dechinta.research@gmail.com

Project Overview

Effective, culturally relevant educational programming in Northern Canada has proven elusive at all levels of the educational system. At the post-secondary level, Northern colleges provide essential vocational training, but they rely on partnerships with southern universities to provide some access to degree programs to northern students unable to leave the North. Canada remains the only circumpolar country without a Northern-based university. The need for a well-educated northern population is great, and growing. Faced with unique challenges ranging from climate change and Arctic sovereignty to Indigenous social, economic and political development, the future of North will depend on the capacity of residents to think critically and act wisely in the stewardship of Northern lands and resources.

Dechinta Bush University is based on the vision and commitment of a group of Northern based scholars and southern university supporters seeking to establish a Northern university that draws on Northern strengths: Indigenous cultures, connection to the land, and the necessity for innovating to address unique northern circumstances. This project will see up to 225 graduate students receiving instruction through land-based hands on learning from up to 90 academic instructors and land-based experts in bush-camp settings, supported by several well-established southern universities and Northern Aboriginal, cultural and research organizations.

The partnership will assist in establishing an institutional structure for a permanent Northern land- based university program targeting Northern and Indigenous students who would otherwise be unwilling or unable to attend a university program in the south. The program will speak directly to the needs and aspirations of both students and Northern communities: its aim is to produce a cohort of Northern Indigenous students positioned to respond to their community needs through the unique training they will receive at Dechinta.

Conceptualized on a tutoring/apprenticeship pedagogical approach strongly influenced by critical Indigenous educational methodologies, Dechinta will offer an environment where Indigenous cultural skills and knowledge will provide the basis for developing twenty university-accredited courses. The plethora of issues facing the North today – from climate change to self government – require that decision and policy makers working in communities are increasingly required to function effectively across a range of knowledge sectors.

Small Indigenous communities are beginning to achieve wide-ranging powers to govern under land claims and self-government agreements, at the same time that they are struggling to overcome effects of colonization and face global challenges. Tomorrow’s leaders and policy-makers face a complexity of information assimilation and decision-making unparalleled in history. Communities are increasingly relying on their cultural confidence in their Indigenous knowledge as a source of strength and guidance in making decisions. As these communities achieve a level of self-government, they are anxious to see their children acquire the education and skills necessary to replace the transient non-Indigenous population currently predominant among the decision-making elite. Dechinta represents an opportunity to share in building a unique land-based learning experience that will stand as a model approach to Indigenous and Northern education throughout the circumpolar world.

The Circle’s existence comes from the recognition that philanthropic organizations’ impact can be far greater by joining forces, and by building strong relationships with Aboriginal communities. This collaboration is the first of its kind in Canada.

“As an Aboriginal person who has participated in the early stages of this organization, I am very excited to see The Circle coming into realization,” says Victoria Grant, Chair of Temagami Community Foundation. “Over the past 10 years, the growing interest to support and learn about Aboriginal communities from almost nothing to where we are today can only be a benefit, not only to Aboriginal communities but to all.”

The Circle’s launch event will take place Wednesday, May 11, 2011 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Grunt Gallery in Vancouver.

ABOUT THE CIRCLE

Organizations that have been involved in the creation of the The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples include: The Calgary Foundation, Community Foundation of Nova Scotia, Community Foundations of Canada, The Counselling Foundation of Canada, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, Muttart Foundation, Oshki Aa-yaa’aag Mino Bimaadiziiwin Foundation, Small Change Fund, Temagami Community Foundation, Tribal Councils Investment Group (TCIG) Charitable Foundation, Trillium Foundation, United Way of Winnipeg, Vancouver Foundation, Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, and Winnipeg Foundation.

More information about The Circle’s mandate and mission can be found on their website at philanthropyandaboriginalpeoples.ca

For further information, contact:

James Stauch
Chair of the Steering Committee of The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, and Vice President of the Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation
416-601-4776
james@gordonfn.org

Victoria Grant
Member of Temagami First Nation, Chair of Temagami Community Foundation, and Member of the Board of Community Foundations of Canada
905-640-6556
jiimaan@me.com

NAMHR will accept applications from university-based investigators or Aboriginal community organizations for grants of up to $5,000 in the following categories:

1. Seed Funding to facilitate the initiation of innovative research efforts and knowledge exchange that would then compete for larger-scale support from one of Canada’s national or provincial funding agencies. Deliverable: an application for a larger grant to undertake the project, or other clear plan for subsequent funding.
2. Knowledge Translation activities that make the findings of research activities available and accessible to the appropriate audience. Deliverable: a concrete message in a medium that is meaningful to the research users.
3. Research Allowance to enable student researchers who are or have been the recipients of a scholarship from NAMHR to undertake research activities necessary to complete their studies. Research Allowances do not automatically accompany the receipt of NAMHR scholarships. Scholarship applicants requesting a Research Allowance must also complete a second application to NAMHR’s Research Awards Program for additional Research Allowance support.

Deliverable: receipts required for reimbursement of legitimate expenses.

The excellence of the proposal and community relevance will be criteria in the selection process. NAMHR Investigators are available to help with the preparation of proposals. Where applicable, funds will not be released until approval from an appropriate Research Ethics Board (REB) has been obtained.

Application Procedure

The proposal should be submitted electronically as an e-mail attachment to colette.isaac@mail.mcgill.ca.

Download the details here.

Deadline: Friday, July 30, 2010

The Native Women’s Association of Canada coordinates the Helen Bassett Commemorative Student Award in the amount of $1,000, which is awarded to four young Aboriginal women in Canada pursuing their post secondary studies. The Helen Bassett Commemorative Student Award is given to Aboriginal women under the age of thirty demonstrating financial need and community involvement with a goal to contribute either to the social, legal, or economic well-being of Aboriginal women. The application can be accessed at the following link:

www.nwac.ca/nwac-coordinates-helen-bassett-commemorative-student-award

The deadline to apply is July 30, 2010. Eligibility requirements include the following;

• Pursuing post-secondary studies, priority is given to those pursuing a law career;
• Under the age of 31;
• Demonstrated a commitment to improving the situation of Aboriginal Women in Canada;
• Submission of a brief essay (1-2 pages).

For more information, contact:

Lacey Whiteduck
National Youth Coordinator
Native Women’s Association of Canada
1 Nicholas Street, 9th Floor, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7
t: 613.722.3033 x 238 or tf: 1.800.461.4043
f: 613.722.7687
www.nwac.ca

Deadline for submissions: August 15, 2010

A full description of this opportunity is available here.

About the TRC’s Research Mandate

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was established under the terms of the 2007 Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement. The TRC is mandated to:

• produce a report including recommendations to the government of Canada concerning the residential school system and experience including: the history, purpose, operation and supervision of the residential school system, the effect and consequences of the residential school system (including systemic harms, intergenerational consequences and the impact on human dignity) and the ongoing legacy of the residential schools;
• guide a process of reconciliation involving former First Nations, Inuit and Métis students, their families and communities, religious entities, former school employees, government, and non‐Aboriginal Canadians generally;
• promote awareness and public education of Canadians about the history and legacy of the Indian residential school system;
• employ interdisciplinary, social sciences, historical, oral traditional and archival methodologies in undertaking its research;
• recognize the significance of Aboriginal oral and legal traditions in its activities.

Under the direction of Commissioners, the TRC Research Unit has designed a comprehensive research agenda that addresses both the truth‐telling and reconciliationfostering components of the Commission’s mandate. The research agenda incorporates input from various consultations undertaken with residential school survivor groups, multiparty representatives, national and international academics, experts and practitioners.

Research will be carried out by Commission staff, research contracts with various subject experts, community‐based and institutional research partnerships, and through a series of conferences, symposiums and workshops organized by or in cooperation with the Commission. The new body of research generated may be published by the TRC in a variety of formats, including in scholarly journals, occasional papers and conference reports.

Northern Research Forum 6th Open Assembly
“Our Ice Dependent World”
Oslo and Kirkenes, Norway, 24-27 October 2010

Extended Deadline – 6th of April

Overview

The 6th Open Assembly of the Northern Research Forum (NRF), Our Ice Dependent world, is to be held on October 24th – 27th, 2010 in Oslo and Kirkenes, Norway. The event is organized together with the 6th NRF Host Planning Committee.

The 6th NRF Open Assembly

The main theme of the 6th NRF Open Assembly “Our Ice Dependent World” is to address the impact of dwindling ice – terrestrial as well as ocean bound – on the complex interface of nature and society in all climatic zones of the world. In light of man-made aspects of climate change, the natural phenomena of ice is gradually becoming a concept of global politics – a common heritage of humankind- affecting societal life in dramatic ways on a global scale. The 6th NRF Open Assembly will focus on the interrelationships of human and environmental dimensions of ice generally in a global context, and particularly in the Arctic, the Antarctic and the Himalayans. The discussions are expected to highlight the role of research, the social relevance of science, and community in addressing the issues globally.

See Thematic Program for further information PDF

Funding Eligibility

Young researchers and professionals who have passed their MA and plan to complete a doctoral degree or have recently completed a doctoral degree, are eligible to receive full or partial travel funding from the NRF in order to participate in the 6th NRF Open Assembly in Oslo and Kirkenes, Norway, 24-27 October 2010.

Eligibility

• Anyone who has completed a Master’s degree in the past 2-3 years and has plans to complete a doctoral degree
• Current terminal degree students (e.g., PhD, J.D)
• Post doctoral students/professionals (up to 5 years past terminal degree completion)

Application Process

If interested, please apply by filling out the online application form on the NRF web site on or before 6th of April 2010.

For specific questions and additional information, please email the NRF Secretariat, nrf@unak.is.

The Nasivvik Centre (Laval and Trent University-based NEAHR) is also pleased to announce its eighth call for Masters and Doctoral scholarships in Inuit Environment and Health Research. For further information, please consult the website, Associated application forms may also be found on the website.

The current call for proposals is open to all eligible Arctic researchers in Canada (see eligibility criteria below). New applicants and collaborators not previously engaged in ArcticNet are encouraged to apply. The list of targeted research themes in social and human health sciences includes (but is not limited to):

1. State of northern education (K-12 education, postsecondary education, and science & technology training) and strategies to improve it;
2. Traditional Knowledge in relation to research and policy;
3. Social research in the development of adaptation strategies to climate change;
4. Food and water security in the North;
5. Engagement of communities in economic development (e.g. fisheries, mining, oil & gas, tourism, shipping, etc.);
6. Human health impacts of environmental change and/or modernization;
7. Synthesis of results from recent human health surveys leading to policy and strategy development;
8. New and innovative research in the social and human health sciences that contributes to ArcticNet’s science objectives and Integrated Regional Impact Studies.

In addition to conducting excellent research, successful projects are expected to contribute to ArcticNet’s Integrated Regional Impact Study framework and Regional Assessments, and to focus on the application of acquired knowledge to the formulation of projections and the identification of vulnerabilities toward the development of policies and adaptation strategies.

Geographically, ArcticNet restricts its research activities to the coastal Canadian Arctic and sub-Arctic regions with all funded research projects expected to be conducted within the boundaries of ArcticNet’s four Integrated Regional Impact Study (IRIS) regions.

Culturally, ArcticNet focuses on the impacts of environmental and societal changes on Inuit dominated regions and communities that fall within the boundaries of ArcticNet’s geographical domain of research activity.

See:

• Current Call
• Project Review Guidelines
• Strategic Framework
• Full Proposal Application Form

Important Dates:

• Late November – Competition announced
• 18 January 2010 – Deadline for submission of full proposals
• 22 March 2010 – Announcement of successful projects
• 01 April 2010 – Funding begins for approved projects

Note, only US-based organizations are eligible to apply.

Health impact assessments (HIAs) are a valuable decision-making tool for policymakers. They take a flexible, data-driven approach toward identifying the health consequences of new policies, and help develop practical strategies to enhance their health benefits and minimize adverse effects.

HIAs are an effective way to incorporate health into the decisions made by sectors that do not traditionally focus on these outcomes (e.g. – transportation, planning, education, and housing). This strategy helps communities create safer environments and facilitate healthy living. For example, an HIA for a new development in a cold climate region could raise questions about indoor air quality due to modern construction standards.

The Health Impact Project will fund government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations at the local, state, and tribal levels. Individuals are not eligible for funding. Grantees will receive training, mentoring, and technical assistance from the Health Impact Project and leading HIA experts.

Applications for funding will only be accepted online. To begin the application process, you must either login or create an account at: http://apply.healthimpactproject.org/.

For further information, please go to: www.healthimpactproject.org.