Research

Indigenist Research Symposium

Laurier's Office of Indigenous Initiatives holds an annual Indigenist Research Symposium, which showcases the work of Indigenous researchers and emerging new Indigenous research methodologies at Laurier and beyond. The intention of the symposium is to illustrate the value of Indigenous-informed research not only to Indigenous communities, but also to the world.

Indigenous Rights

Over the last few years, Canada has been engaged in a period of reconciliation. This effort has resulted in the awareness of the social disparities that have been faced by Indigenous peoples and the legacy of harm that Canada’s “Indian” social policies have had on the basic human rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Indigenous Rights and Resource Governance Research Group was developed in 2014 to create collaborations and partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada and South America to advance self-determined development and community wellness. This group has helped to create community training modules and has worked to understand and help implement the right to free, prior and informed consent included in the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The implementation of these rights is necessary to secure a future of sustainable development that respects and honours Indigenous traditions of governance and environmental stewardship while preserving and enhancing Indigenous peoples' ability to exist as culturally distinct.

Researching Impact in the North

The Government of the Northwest Territories funded three Laurier researchers to help answer important questions about environmental issues in Canada's North. Jennifer Baltzer, Derek Gray and Philip Marsh received funding for separate projects as part of the Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program, which aims to provide an understanding of environmental trends and the impacts of human and natural changes in the Northwest Territories. The goal of the program is to provide information to resource managers, governments and communities in the territory to aid in future decision-making.

Additionally, Laurier signed a 10-year partnership agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories to support the territories’ capacity to conduct environmental research and to support the training of highly qualified personnel in natural resources disciplines.

Indigenous Peoples, Decolonization and the Globe

Laurier's research cluster for Indigenous Peoples, Decolonization and the Globe supports research, research-activism and community-engaged research carried out by students, faculty and staff at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. It is an action-oriented group that encourages decolonizing institutions, disciplines and knowledge systems. The cluster is also centred on supporting Indigenous methodologies and ways of knowing, including Indigenous law, governance and environmentalism, and deconstructing colonial systems and colonization.