Current Projects

IndWisdom Study

This project, entitled IndWisdom, supports the resurgence and assertion of Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being, and Doing in research contexts. The ultimate goal is to bring Indigenous knowledge systems into the academy to transform the way people access, view, and value Indigenous Knowledge. This project looks at how and why Indigenous Knowledge is included in research to the benefit of Indigenous peoples. Indigenous Knowledges are relevant, valuable, scientific, sacred, historical and also frequently misunderstood, misused, or oversimplified in Western research contexts. The team working on this project supports the resurgence and assertion of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing in research contexts and hopes to transform the way academic institutions train future researchers.

Project website: https://sites.google.com/view/indwisdom/home

Funder: New Frontiers for Research Fund - Exploration

Innu Policy Framework Project

Mushuau and Sheshatshiu Innu have always lived by Innu laws, values, and principles that have been passed on through oral traditions. Colonization replaced and penalized Innu ways of knowing, being, and doing, using written policies to justify and mobilize actions. This project will articulate an Innu-specific framework (a guide) that will be used to write policies policies that uphold Innu values, principles, and protocols to guide day-to-day actions and decisions (across programs, supports, services). This project will lay the foundation needed to select and train local members to develop and write policies for our own communities.

Funder: SSHRC Insight Development Grant

Study on Knowledge Mobilization Use and Uptake of New Brunswick FASD Study Toolkit

We recently completed the New Brunswick FASD study that examined people’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with alcohol, pregnancy, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) across New Brunswick. This study involves developing a comprehensive knowledge mobilization strategy and studying the short-term use and uptake of specific knowledge mobilization tools we are co-developing. The NB FASD Centre of Excellence is the primary knowledge user that is well-situated and resourced to use evidence from this study to identify priorities and incorporate changes/initiatives in their work, based on the findings. This study targets 1) health professionals, 2) educators, 3) justice/correctional system workers, 4) social service and child welfare workers, and 5) community organizational staff.

Funder: SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant

Funder of previous study: Mostly in-kind human resource time contributions, Dr. Morton Ninomiya's Canada Research Chair, New Brunswick FASD Centre of Excellence staff time, Regional Service Commission, and Community Capacity Regional Resiliency

Community-Driven Knowledge Mobilization Scoping Review & Bibliometric Analysis

The Community-driven knowledge mobilization terminology and practices in academic research: Scoping review and bibliometric analysis project explores the disconnect between the production of research knowledge and its application to those most impacted by it. This project has two branches: a scoping review (led by Ramy Barhouche) and a bibliometric analysis (led by Samson Tse) on published literature, seeking to paint a broad picture of the landscape of knowledge mobilization as well as its uses by equity-seeking groups. The projects will reveal what and how definitions of knowledge mobilization are used globally, how equity-seeking groups benefit and utilize research knowledge, and create visual representations of bibliometric information on knowledge mobilization literature.

Funding: Dr. Morton Ninomiya's Canada Research Chair

Environmental Scan of KMb/KT Training & Toolkits

The comprehensive environmental scan of the application of KMb/KT training and toolkits for community-based research is a branch of the Community-driven knowledge mobilization terminology and practices in academic research: Scoping review and bibliometric analysis project. This project aims to develop a comprehensive Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) and Knowledge Translation (KT) strategy for the "Interdisciplinary & Indigenous Pathways to Wellness" research group. It focuses on creating a sustainable and inclusive approach to community-based research, ensuring that findings are effectively disseminated and applied. The project involves conducting an environmental scan of KMb/KT training programs and toolkits, categorizing useful resources, and developing a phased implementation plan. The plan includes creating a central website for sharing knowledge, utilizing multimedia dissemination strategies, and building capacity within the community and research team. The goal is to enhance collaboration, ensure long-term sustainability, and drive policy and systemic change based on research findings.

Funding: Dr. Morton Ninomiya's Canada Research Chair

Child Welfare Recording Study

There are current efforts to develop a Canadian Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS). Through this study, we aim to understand the processes and contextual conditions that generate administrative child welfare data. This study will reveal potential strengths, limitations, and sources of bias that can be accounted for during quantitative analysis and interpretation of a forthcoming national CCWIS. The findings can help support the transparent use of administrative data, and guide data quality improvement initiatives.

Funder: Public Health Agency of Canada

Knowledge Sharing, Translation, and Accountability in Research ("KSTAR") Study

Our team of researchers and community partners is studying how to strengthen knowledge sharing (“K*”) in community-campus research with equity-deserving communities. We are looking at what helps and what gets in the way of effective collaboration in Tri-Agency–funded projects. Using surveys, interviews, and public research data, we are identifying what works best to make research partnerships more fair, inclusive, and useful. Based on what we learn, we will create an open-access comic anthology of 80+ comic strips co-developed with a professional cartoonist. These comics will share real insights, help train researchers, and make K* concepts engaging and easy to understand for everyone.

Funder: SSHRC Insight Grant

Community-driven Knowledge Mobilization: Mapping Evidence Gaps & Building Consensus on Promising Practices

This study looks at how to make research sharing and collaboration (“K*”) more inclusive and useful for rights and equity-deserving and equity-denied communities such as Indigenous peoples, newcomers, racialized groups, 2S/LGBTQIA+ people, those with disabilities or chronic conditions, and older adults. We are exploring how K* can better support community-led research and lead to real, lasting change. First, we are creating an open access and interactive online evidence gap map that shows what is already known about community-driven K* worldwide. Next, we will work with communities, researchers, and funders to define what good K* looks like and how to measure it. Finally, we will share findings through outreach, training, and partnerships.

Funder: Research on Research Joint Initiative (SSHRC, CIHR, and Michael Smith Health Research BC)

Contributing Research Partnerships

Patient-Oriented Research Approach. (With Zack Marshall et al. Funded by CIHR Catalyst Grant: Moving Upstream - Structural Determinants of Health)
Developing an Innu Health Data Governance Plan. (With Innu Round Table Secretariat. Funded by Health Systems Integration Fund, Indigenous Services Canada.)
The First Nations Wellness Initiative (FNWI): Strengthening, Expanding and Sharing Community-Driven Approaches. (With Samantha Wells, Renee Linklater, Agic Branka, Ashley Cornect-Benoit, and Laura J Brubacher. Funded by CIHR.)
Engaging communities in developing culturally relevant solutions to autism service disparities. (With Janet McLaughlin et al. Funded by SSHRC Partnership Development Grant.)
Black and Indigenous Lives, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Management in a time of Transition: Implications for Ethics and Self-determination. (With Ciann Wilson et al. Funded by SSHRC - Race, Gender and Diversity Initiative.)
Collaborative processes and the impact of Universal Design for Learning on postsecondary student and instructor wellbeing. (With Kelly Skinner et al. Funded by SSHRC Insight Development Grant.)