Standing Committee on Science and Research

Comité permanent de la science et de la recherche

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 19, 2024 -

Today, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research tabled a report entitled Incorporating Indigenous knowledge and science in Canadian research and policy development in the House of Commons. This is the committee’s eleventh substantive report of the first session of the 44^th Parliament.

Defining Indigenous knowledge and science is not a simple task, with different Indigenous communities across Canada practicing localized, place-based knowledge systems grounded in generations of practice that continue to evolve. However, some common elements of Indigenous knowledge systems include the involvement of Indigenous knowledge holders, a focus on relationships, respect for the world and those within it, and the use of Indigenous languages.

Indigenous knowledge is already contributing in many ways to research and policy development at community, provincial, territorial, federal, and international levels. For example, the committee heard about the Tlicho Government’s co-management of caribou populations in their territory, the National Inuit Strategy on Research developed by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Indigenous Science Division within Environment and Climate Change Canada, and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

When incorporating Indigenous knowledge and science in Canadian research and policy development, the Committee heard that organizations and governments should focus on models like two-eyed seeing, parallel paths, ethical space, braiding and weaving. These models emphasize that contributions from multiple knowledge systems are equally valuable in the production of any end result, as illustrated in the different strands that make up a braid.

The Committee held seven public meetings as part of its study. It heard from 47 witnesses. Witnesses included Indigenous governments and organizations, territorial government representatives, academic researchers, and representatives from federal departments. It received five briefs.

Reflecting the evidence received by the committee, the report contains 15 recommendations to the Government of Canada. Of note, the committee recommends increasing formal mechanisms for engagement between policy makers and Indigenous governments, such as is already in place through the National Advisory Committee established by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and continuing to explore opportunities to support self-determination, such as through the development of co-management agreements with Indigenous governments. In addition, the committee recommends the federal granting councils–the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research–encourage researchers to build relationships with Indigenous communities, and review funding evaluation criteria to ensure applications are appropriately reviewed and consent has been provided by relevant Indigenous communities.

“On behalf of the Committee, I want to thank all the witnesses who participated in this study and shared their experience, knowledge, time and expertise,” stated Valerie Bradford, Chair of the Committee. She added: “As we heard during consultations on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan, this is just another step along our journey together towards reconciliation, not an end point.”

The report can be consulted on the committee’s web page on the Parliament of Canada website.