Western Research Centre October 2016 – Call for Proposals Now Available!

UAKN Context

The Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network (UAKN) seeks to bring attention to the research deficit and knowledge disparity of the urban Aboriginal environment by focusing attention on the research, policy and programming needs of the urban Aboriginal community.

The goal of the Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network (UAKN) is to be a durable research network that focuses attention on urban Aboriginal concerns and contributes to a better quality of life for Aboriginal peoples living in cities and towns by:

  • Funding high-quality, policy-relevant research undertaken by research centres that bring  together urban Aboriginal community, academic and government perspectives; and,
  • Engaging government, academic and Aboriginal community stakeholders in an ongoing dialogue on policy priorities and research needs.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has awarded a Partnership Grant to the UAKN initiative for five years (2012 – 2017) to fund a number of research projects under the following broad research themes:

  • Human development: needs and outcomes of individuals and families
  • Social cohesion: community well-being, education, justice
  • Economic development: economic participation, employment, entrepreneurship, income
  • Civic engagement: urban Aboriginal councils and/or urban Aboriginal community organizations role in the city and with other local organizations.

The Western Research Centre (BC/AB) has $90,000 in the 2016-17 budget to fund a number of research projects under the following regionally identified more specific research themes:

  • Child Welfare and the Strengthening of Families
  • Homelessness and Housing
  • Urban Self-Government

Urban Aboriginal communities (as represented by Friendship Centres and other urban Aboriginal organizations) will identify which theme is most relevant for their community.  Respecting the community based participatory action research process, other community recognized themes will be considered, if they are not included within these broad research themes.

Research teams must be comprised of at least one representative of an urban Aboriginal organization in BC or Alberta and at least one academic researcher who is affiliated with a post-secondary institution in BC or Alberta. We encourage teams to also involve representatives from government departments. Letters indicating these partnerships must be included in your application.

We are unable to fund graduate student research.

 Call for Proposals

The Western Research Centre of the UAKN is seeking proposals for urban Aboriginal community based research projects.  Candidates are invited to submit a research proposal detailing their anticipated research project on or before Dec. 15, 2016.

The successful research proposals will be funded based on the following funding criteria:

  • Pilot projects or literature synthesis projects with a 6 month timeframe will be funded to a maximum of $5000.00
  • Standard research grants with a 12 month timeframe will be funded in two distinct categories: (a) To a maximum of $15,000.00 and (b) To a maximum of  $30,000.00

 Note: The participation of Aboriginal students is considered an asset and this aspect    will be weighted heavily.

Full PDF: uakn-oct-2016-cfp-western-rc

 

Submission

Please submit the research proposal by the Dec. 15, 2016 deadline to:  [email protected]

All research proposals will undergo an adjudication process led by the Western Research Centre Executive Committee and applicants will be notified of the final decision by February 3, 2017. Please note that the merit criteria to be evaluated will consist of community, academic and policy based criteria. All questions and enquiries can be directed to:

Dr. Ross Hoffman, First Nations Studies Dept., the University of Northern BC: [email protected]

Co-Director of the Western Research Centre

The titles and short descriptions of projects funded in the last competition round can be found at: https://uakn.org/research-centres/western-research-centre

All successful research projects must obtain the approval of their respective university research ethics board and comply with any indigenous research ethics board, where they exist, before funds will be released.