“Research For A Better Life”: The UAKN Atlantic’s Commitment to Community-Driven Urban...

“Research For A Better Life”: The UAKN Atlantic’s Commitment to Community-Driven Urban Aboriginal

Research

By Verlé Harrop, PhDDirector, UAKN Atlantic

Canadian Public Health Association May, 29th 2014

Presentation Overview

History of the UAKN

Who we are

What we do

How we do it

The story so far ...

History behind the UAKN

Kent Monkman, "The Deposition," 84" x 126", Acrylic on canvas. Source: sargentsdaughters.com

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/gallery/photo/artist-kent-monkmans-surreal-visions-urban-rez-10-pictures-154972

Why a UAKN?


Ken Monkman, “The Chase”, 201484” x 126”, Acrylic on canvasSource: sargentsdaughter.com

UAKN - Who we are …

Kent Monkman, “Death of the Female”, 2014. 84” x 126”, Acrylic on canvas. Source: sargentdaughters.com


UAKN - What we do …

“The goal of the UAKN is to be a durable research network that contributes to a better quality of life for urban Aboriginal peoples by:

Funding high- quality, policy- relevant, community-driven research;

Supporting students & community researchers;

Engaging in outreach and knowledge mobilization; and

Engaging Aboriginal community stakeholders, government and academe in an ongoing dialogue on policy priorities and research needs.”

UAKN Research Themes

1)Human development: needs and outcomes of individuals and families;

2)Social cohesion: community well-being, education, and justice;

3)Economic development: economic participation, education & skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, income; and

4)Civic engagement: urban Aboriginal councils and/or urban Aboriginal community organizations role in the city and with other local organizations.

Calls For Proposals …

Funding for community-driven research with an urban Aboriginal focus ($5,000 & $15,000 funding envelopes)

Funding for students (preferably urban Aboriginal students) and community researchers

Applications are adjudicated quarterly (March 31st, June 30th, September 30th and December 31st)

Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.

How we do it …

UAKN Atlantic Executive Committee 2014 - 2015

Wendy Wettlands, President & Chief, New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council (NBAPC), Fredericton, NB

Pamela Glode-Desrochers, Executive Director, Micmac Native Friendship Centre, Halifax, NS

Chris Sheppard, Special Projects Officer, St. John’s Native Friendship Centre, St. John’s, NL

Jamie Gallant, President & Chief, Native Council of PEI, Charlottetown, PEI

Patsy McKinney, Executive Director, Under One Sky Head Start, Fredericton, NB

Josephine Savarese, Associate Professor, STU Faculty of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Fredericton, NB

Steven Foulds, Lawyer practicing Aboriginal law and criminal law in New Brunswick and Nunavut, Fredericton, NB –also teaches at UNB Law School

UAKN Atlantic Executive Committee 2014 - 2015

Jula Hughes, Professor, UNB Law School, Fredericton, GNB

Diane Hawkins, Senior Consultant, Employment & Continuous Learning Services, GNB

Carla Gregan-Burns, Regional Director, Department of Social Development, GNB

Lisa Jodoin, PhD Candidate, Department of English, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB

Miigam’agan, Elder, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Verlé Harrop, Chair UAKN Atlantic Executive Committee, UNB Faculty of Education, Fredericton, NB

Research Practices & Processes …

Community-driven: the community generates the research question (beyond community-based & community-paced)

TEAMS: community-partner, academic, elder, student, community researcher, government representative -- supports knowledge mobilization

Chapter 9: TCPS 2 Research Agreement

Builds research capacity: “research by” vs. “research on”

Grounded in a historical/broader context

Appropriate REB processes

Outreach Activities: PEI “Meet & Greet” resulted in two funded research projects

Outreach: NB “Meet & Greet”Resulting in a Regional Research

Project

Outreach Tools: Researcher Database

• Contact info• Research interests• Bring to the table• Looking for

The story so far …PEI: “Fostering Educational Success for Off-Reserve Aboriginal Learners on Prince Edward Island”

NS: “Urban Aboriginal Wellbeing, Wellness and Justice: A MicMac Friendship Centre Needs Assessment Study for Creating a Collaborative Indigenous Mental Resiliency, Addictions and Justice Strategy”

NB: “Navigating Government Services: The “Lived” Experience of Young Urban Aboriginal Families Residing In Fredericton, NB”

PEI: “Creation Stories: Urban Aboriginal Early Education and Literacy Intervention”

NL: “Women’s Narratives From the St. John’s Native Friendship Centre: Using Digital Storytelling to Inform community-based Healing & violence prevention programs”

“Navigating Government Services”: Project Description

As evidenced in the Bernard Richard report on First Nations child welfare in New Brunswick (2010), Aboriginal families face many challenges navigating government services and all too often fall through the cracks. This proposed research deepens our understanding of this population and the challenges they face in relation to the system by asking questions such as:

“In what ways are government services working effectively to meet the needs of off-reserve aboriginal families in Fredericton?”;

“In what ways are government services not working effectively for off-reserve families?”; and

“How can we improve services for urban Aboriginal people in Fredericton?”

“Navigating Government Services: The “Lived” Experience of Young Urban

Aboriginal Families Residing In Fredericton, NB”

Research TEAM Dr. Ann Sherman (Co-Applicant/PI): UNB Faculty of Education,

Lisa Jodoin (Urban Aboriginal Student Lead): UNB PhD Candidate,

Carla Gregan-Burns (Collaborator): STU Faculty of Social Work/ NB Department Social Development,

Patsy McKinney (Community Partner): Under One Sky Head Start,

Shelley Germain (Community Partner): Gignoo Transition House Inc.,

Tamara Polchies (Community Partner): Fredericton Native Friendship Centre,

Gary Gould (Community Partner): Skigin-Elnoog Housing Corporation,

Carol LaBillois-Slocum (Community Partner): NB Aboriginal People’s Council,

Bill MacKenzie (Government Partner): NB Department Social Development,

Blake McNeil (Government Partner): NB Department Social Development,

Louise Hale Finley (Government Partner): NB Department Social Development

Donna Wahienha:wi Lahache (Government Partner): NB Department Education & Early Childhood

Keeping research community-driven

The research question was developed by the community

Used the CIHR TCPS 2 Research Agreement

Community-researcher

Follow up meetings with the focus groups to ensure accuracy of data and to foster community engagement

Collaborative analysis of data

Collaborative drafting of final report

Impact – follow up work to ensure the research results in real change for the community (practice & policy/legislation)

Community-driven research: two examples …

Under One Sky Monoqonuwicik-Neoteetjg Mosigisig Inc (Urban Aboriginal Head Start Program)

http://www.manta.com/ic/mt698fl/ca/under-one-sky-monoqonuwicik-neoteetjg-mosigisig-inc



More to the story … UAKN Atlantic Executive Committee Regional Research Project,

“Urban Aboriginals and the Honour of the Crown”, led by Professor Jula Hughes, Faculty of Law, UNB.

Kent Monkman "Bête Noire," 2014192" x 192" x 120", 2014, Painted backdrop (acrylic on canvas), Sculptural installation at Sargent's Daughters. Source:sargentsdaughters.com


And the work continues …UAKN Atlantic 1st Knowledge Mobilization

Workshop & UAKN Atlantic Regional Research Project Symposium, May 15 & 16, 2014, Fredericton.

UAKN Atlantic List serv 400

Researcher Profiles 48

Working on National UAKN CFP submissions

Engaging new funding partners

Growing the UAKN Atlantic community

Thank You/Contact

[email protected]

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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