Ocean Frontier Institute Indigenous Engagement Guide.

Abstract

The Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) has developed an Indigenous (Inuit, Métis, and First Nation) Engagement Guide (The Guide or Guide) to facilitate efforts toward respectful and meaningful engagement with Indigenous governments, communities,and organizations (Indigenous groups). This initiative 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). It also links to OFI’s Strategic Framework 2018-2022, which affirms OFI is committed to engaging stakeholders and Indigenous peoples in ocean management solutions and building support for ocean research and its applications. It informs OFI’s researchers to provide considerate recommendations to reflect stakeholder and Indigenous priorities, values and knowledge. This guide provides an important first step in the active incorporation of Indigenous interests and rights into OFI’s ongoing vision for North Atlantic research and environmental stewardship. Research Programs funded through OFI will be required to meet the expectations and standards set out in this Guide and as they arise through our Indigenous Engagement Initiatives. The regional focus of OFI’s Indigenous Engagement Guide is Indigenous groups in the Atlantic Provinces:Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. From an academic perspective, the North Atlantic and Arctic Gateway are of particular interest because of the region's unique physical, chemical,and biological processesthatmake it a predictor for key attributes of the global ocean (OFI 2019). It is anticipated that further diminished sea ice cover will increase shipping traffic, population and resource extractionin the Canadian Arctic, which will lead to potential challenges for Canada and for Indigenous communities relating to sovereignty, security, social and environmental issues (OFI 2019).The North Atlantic and Arctic Gateway encompass diverse Indigenous perspectives. For Indigenous communities,these areas represent their traditional territory and ancestral homelands, their connection to ancestors, culture, traditions,and they form part of communally held Aboriginal and Treaty Rights. In addition, Indigenous communities may have negative perceptions of research and academia that relate to historical and ongoing exclusion, either explicitly or implicitly, and unethical research practices. Only through respectful engagement and working to create meaningful research partnerships with Indigenous communities,can these negative perceptions and those with the perspective of unethical research practices be acknowledged and prevented from reoccurring. The purpose of this guide is to support OFI staff and its research community as they strive for respectful engagement and meaningful partnerships with Indigenous groups in their research activities. It outlines the vision for this initiative and includes policies and guidelines for engagement with Indigenous groups, outlines training requirements and opportunities, and provides links to information and additional resources. Practically, the Guide will assist the OFI community in identifying how research programs may impact Indigenous groups and will provide guidance in conducting respectful engagement and developing meaningful research relationships with Indigenous groups. As part of broader guidance, the OFI will also seek to provide researchers and staff with culturally appropriate training opportunities to foster Indigenous cultural awareness and learning opportunities.