¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

For First Nations to initiate or participate in research projects with universities is at times made problematic by bureaucratic complexity, lack of representation, epistemological differences, cost of access, the excessive burden on Indigenous faculty and distrust of institutions.   

The Knowledge Exchange seeks to address these barriers head-on by supporting partnership development between First Nations of B.C. and ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV researchers. Through an online matchmaking portal and direct one-on-one research support, the Knowledge Exchange acts as a hub for building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities. The aim is to produce research that has direct, positive impact by putting the needs and strengths of Indigenous communities at the center of research motivations.

1. Why a Knowledge Exchange?

One of the foundational pathways towards decolonizing academia is to ensure that knowledge is reciprocally generated and will serve Indigenous partners. This production and sharing of knowledge stands in sharp contrast to traditional models of research where knowledge is extracted from communities with little given in return. In such scenarios, academic researchers often bear little of the relative costs, yet they gain much that advances their professional trajectories.  

The Knowledge Exchange has the potential to be a significant step forward in the long process of decolonizing research within the academy. While there are First Nations in B.C. with well-established, healthy relationships with university research partners, there are many others that do not. These Nations would value better connections to the research community. First Nations' research needs are often unmet, or they must rely on high-priced consultants with whom they have no lasting relationships. Given that there are researchers (including graduate students) who welcome the opportunity to collaborate with First Nations communities, the Knowledge Exchange model offers significant potential for directing research where it is needed most. 

In addition to supporting long term efforts towards decolonization, this project also addresses a very practical matter: On one hand, First Nations may face challenges initiating and co-creating relevant research collaborations within the university due a myriad of barriers as discussed above. On the other hand, there are many researchers at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV who seek to collaborate with Nations on projects that are community-centered but these researchers may lack the experience and/or connections to participate in such partnerships. This gap between community needs and research potential is where the Knowledge Exchange holds great promise.

2. Reconciliation at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV   

Removing the barriers that prevent Indigenous communities from accessing, leading and participating in research contributes to ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV's progress toward reconciliation and becoming an inclusive institution. Recognizing the contributions that Indigenous knowledge systems and perspectives can make towards enhancing research quality and innovation is another important step and is stated in the formative document Walk this Path with Us and in the 2019 ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Aboriginal Reconciliation Council (¶¡ÏãÔ°AV-ARC) discussions about how the 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be addressed at the University.

Drawing on the ethical principles of community-engaged research, this initiative prioritizes research rigor, relevance and reciprocity while upholding values such as cultural safety and respect. By foregrounding Indigenous priorities and voices, this project actively supports Truth and Reconciliation in the following ways:

1. It shifts priorities to address topics often overlooked or marginalized in mainstream academia, thereby broadening the scope and impact of academic inquiry. 
2. It provides robust, culturally relevant data and evidence that can be used to influence public discourse by highlighting Indigenous perspectives on critical issues such as land rights, environmental stewardship, health disparities and cultural preservation.
3. It increases the representation of Indigenous peoples in academic research which enhances cultural competency within the university and encourages a more respectful and informed engagement with Indigenous communities.

3. How it works 

The Knowledge Exchange works on two tracks. The first track is the which is a platform where First Nations and researchers (¶¡ÏãÔ°AV faculty and graduate students) can register to create profiles, listing their research needs and expertise, respectively. The application process will collect preliminary details on research needs, offerings, financial support, and timelines. A facilitator working for the Knowledge Exchange — potentially an Indigenous postdoctoral fellow — then suggests and coordinates potential matches, allowing both parties to review profiles and collaborate on mutually beneficial research projects.

Successfully matched projects on the Knowledge Exchange Portal may then move to the second track where they can request support in forming research teams, including First Nations co-researchers and ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV faculty or students. The research team, with support from ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV CERi and oversight from a leadership circle (aka advisory group) of indigenous faculty, will ensure compliance with cultural safety protocols, research agreements and ethics. Additionally, ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV CERi provides administrative and knowledge mobilization support, including stipends for research expenses and assistance in creating outputs that meet the needs of the First Nations partner.

4. Project Governance  

This project will be led by leadership circle of indigenous faculty who will review all requests for research that arrive through the online portal or through referrals. This team will advise on researcher matching and protocols to prepare researchers to begin their working relationship with First Nations representatives in a productive and respectful manner. These advisors will be drawn from the Faculty of Environment’s Sea Land and Sky Indigenization initiative and the ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV CERi advisory board and the CERi-led 312 Main Research Shop. The Knowledge Exchange builds upon the foundation of these two projects as well the guidance of Indigenous advisors and scholars within ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV and First Nations communities.

5. Cultural Safety and Confidentiality

Non-Indigenous graduate students and faculty involved with the Knowledge Exchange are provided with training in cultural safety and approaches to creating research relationships where Indigenous peoples feel respected, valued and secure in expressing their cultural identity. This training addresses power imbalances, systemic inequities and historical injustices that are present in research environments and have historically marginalized Indigenous peoples.

Additionally, graduate students and faculty involved with the Research Exchange are provided with training in First Nation Principles of OCAP (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession). This training will be provided in accordance with the direction of the project advisory group.

It is important to note all applications requesting research via the Knowledge Exchange portal are kept confidential and only shared with appropriate researchers.

Summary  

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV is a place of knowledge creation that has a positive impact on society.  In this time of reconciliation, we ask ourselves, "how can we do better to make resources for research and knowledge creation accessible to Indigenous Nations — research that is timely and relevant to their many pressing social and environmental concerns?" This project facilitates new relationships between the university and B.C.’s First Nations in ways that foreground Indigenous research priorities and interests. The door is opened with Care, attention to Relationships, providing Institutional Access, timely and relevant Research, driven by values of Equity and Reconciliation.