the purpose of the network environments for indigenous health research (neihr) is to build on previous efforts of the network environments for aboriginal health research (neahr), initially launched in 2007, and the indigenous mentorship network program (imnp), initially launched in december 2016, by establishing a solid foundation for indigenous health research driven by, and grounded in, indigenous (i.e., first nations, inuit and metis) communities in canada. while neahr was revolutionary for its time, neihr will take a broader and more sophisticated approach to indigenous health research and capacity building not just by focusing on individuals (e.g., supporting trainees and researchers), but also by concentrating on indigenous communities, and social structures (e.g., educational systems, institutions, research infrastructures, policy apparatus, etc.).
the objectives of the neihr are seven-fold:
- to engage indigenous peoples in canada in leading and conducting health research and knowledge translation (kt);
- to support indigenous community-based health research based upon the priorities and values of indigenous peoples;
- to build awareness of and capacity for advancing indigenous research paradigms within a health research context;
- to develop an indigenous community-based health research network environment that will support indigenous leadership and research-related organizations with existing and new research infrastructures and platforms;
- to heighten the relevance of indigenous health research and augment the capacity of such research to improve the health of first nations, inuit and métis across all health research domains;
- to improve understanding of indigenous health research and indigenous research paradigms through ethical and impactful partnerships between indigenous communities and health researchers, scholars, professors and instructors, research administrators, policy and decision makers, and other parties with an interest in indigenous health research; and
- to develop an enduring neihr with a sustainable mandate to build research capacity, conduct research, advance indigenous research paradigms, and carry out kt activities.
development grants
the focus of this funding opportunity (fo) is to support development grants to bring together indigenous peoples/communities/organizations and other members of the research team, including researchers, knowledge-users and/or partners, to undertake initial planning and proposal development in preparation of an anticipated future cihr full neihr network grant fo. indigenous elders and knowledge holders are encouraged to play a lead role on the research team (e.g., nominated principal knowledge user, co-investigator, etc.).
the development grants will provide support for proposal preparation activities, community personnel support, and travel support to attend gatherings of indigenous communities, researchers, knowledge users, stakeholders, and/or partners. the expected development activities include a preliminary review of the literature, and other information sources, along with a local and/or regional assessment to determine readiness, priority areas of interest and capacity within the community to develop a full neihr application to cihr.