Shifting to More Inclusive Ocean Research
Since 2018, the Ocean Frontier Institute has worked with its Committee on Indigenous (Inuit, Métis, and First Nation) Engagement to develop an Indigenous Engagement Guide for ocean researchers. The Guide was collaboratively developed with Indigenous communities, organizations, and governments, and provides an important first step in the active incorporation of Indigenous interests and rights into the Ocean Frontier Institute’s ongoing vision for North Atlantic research and environmental stewardship.
The development of the Guide is also part of a larger push to facilitate efforts toward respectful and meaningful engagement with Indigenous governments, communities, and organizations. The Ocean Frontier Institute’s Strategic Framework 2018-2022 affirms a commitment to engage stakeholders and Indigenous peoples in ocean management solutions and build support for ocean research and its applications. The Indigenous Engagement Guide will help inform OFI researchers on how to appropriately consider stakeholder and Indigenous priorities, values and knowledge.
This initiative also recognizes and seeks to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Calls to Action, Education for Reconciliation, calls 62: ii (TRC 2015), The Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Humans, 2nd Edition: Chapter 9 (TCPS 2 2018) and aspires to align with the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP 2008).
Click to learn more about the Guide
Raising the Baseline for Ocean Researchers
Alongside the Guide, the Ocean Frontier Institute is also launching Indigenous awareness training in July 2021 for Dalhousie University researchers and staff, with access for Memorial University to follow soon after.
Providing all researchers and staff with Indigenous awareness training will help the Ocean Frontier Institute further collective learning and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to collaborate with Indigenous peoples on ocean research.