The Forum on the Impact of Climate Change on Ecosystems and Indigenous Research, organized by INQ’s First Peoples Committee, was held in October 2023 in Chicoutimi.
Over two days, various research projects led by or in collaboration with northern Indigenous communities were showcased, offering valuable insight into Indigenous perspectives on research. By bringing together Indigenous and non-Indigenous research actors, the event fostered dialogue across different forms of expertise and worldviews regarding the land and its transformations in the context of climate change.
Discussions focused on five key themes reflecting some of the research priorities identified by communities:
- Resource management
- Food security
- Knowledge recognition
- Climate innovations
- Self-determination
Participants emphasized the importance of using and developing research frameworks and methodologies that are adapted to Indigenous realities, while respecting and integrating Indigenous knowledge and practices. They also highlighted the very purpose of research, which must include community needs and priorities in terms of outcomes and benefits. Challenges such as current research structures, time and funding constraints, and administrative complexity were identified. The forum also highlighted the role of research in decolonization and cultural safety.
The forum’s detailed report is now available in both French and English.
Who is this report for?
- Researchers, research teams, and students working in northern or Indigenous contexts, who will find ethical frameworks and respectful approaches to guide their projects
- Indigenous community members, who may use the report to support research initiatives
- Program and funding managers working with Indigenous research or communities, who will find recommendations to make their programs more flexible and responsive to field realities
- Educators, who may draw on principles of decolonization and Indigenous knowledge recognition to adapt their teaching
- Members of the general public who wish to better understand the unique challenges faced by northern regions and Indigenous communities
Read the report
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