Research is Relational: A Reflection on the “Uniting Knowledge: Connecting Indigenous and Western Science” Panel Discussion

As an Indigenous woman working in the intersections of advocacy, research, and community organizing, I know firsthand the power, both positive and otherwise, that can come from scientific inquiry. Attending “Celebrating the Success of Women in STEM Symposium: Women in Leadership—At the Forefront of Discovery and Innovation,” co-hosted by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) in February of this year, reminded me of the importance of reclaiming science as a relational process.

The opening panel, “Uniting Knowledge: Connecting Indigenous and Western Science,” centred a vital truth: that Indigenous and Western knowledge systems must not exist in opposition, but in a respectful, reciprocal relationship.

Panellists included Randy Jenkins, CEO of Wiiche’iwaymagon Buying Alliance and former federal employee; Anne Barker, director of NRC’s Arctic and Northern Challenge Program; and Janice Bailey, vice president of research and scientific director at Fonds de recherche du Québec.

Representing the Courage to Act Foundation, I attended this session seeking ways to meaningfully centre Indigenous perspectives in STEM and related advocacy. I left with a deeper affirmation that real progress begins by honouring Indigenous sovereignty, land-based knowledge, and community-rooted research practices.

Indigenous peoples comprise about 4% of Canada’s adult population; yet only 2% of workers in STEM occupations are Indigenous (The Conference Board of Canada). These numbers reflect more than a gap—they reflect centuries of marginalization, systemic exclusion, and undervaluing of Indigenous knowledge systems.

Despite this underrepresentation, Indigenous peoples have practiced science since time immemorial. Our ancestors were ecologists, mathematicians, engineers, and health practitioners long before colonial systems defined those roles.

The relationship between Western science and Indigenous communities, however, has often been one of harm. From unethical experiments on Indigenous children that influenced Canada’s Food Guide (Tennant, 2021), to medical trials on tuberculosis patients without consent (Dangerfield, 2018), Indigenous people have been negatively impacted by research since the onset of colonization. 

A Path Forward: Reciprocity and Respect

As Jenkins highlighted, Indigenous people have too often been the victims, not the beneficiaries, of scientific advancement. This legacy has created a deep and ongoing distrust between Western STEM institutions and Indigenous communities.

Panellists highlighted key barriers that persist today, including cultural competency, inequitable funding structures, a lack of protocol support, and unresolved questions regarding knowledge ownership. These challenges are structural – they exist because the systems that guide scientific research were not created with Indigenous people in mind.

But, they can be dismantled and restructured to make science safer for everyone.

Jenkins underscored the importance of Indigenous self-determination in research. Building equitable, ethical, and impactful research practices requires genuine partnership with Indigenous communities from the outset, not as a box to check, but as a core foundation.

Anne Barker cited Kirkness and Barnhardt’s “Four R’s of Indigenous Research” as a starting point for researchers: Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, and Responsibility. These values offer a framework for rebuilding trust and reimagining what research can look like when rooted in relationship.

Honouring Indigenous Excellence

As we recognize National Indigenous History Month, we must reflect not only on the past but on the future we are creating. Honouring this month means celebrating Indigenous excellence, innovation, and leadership in every field, including science and technology. It means creating space for Indigenous youth to see themselves as scientists, engineers, and researchers – not by fitting into colonial frameworks, but by redefining what science looks like through Indigenous lenses.

For me, this work is personal. It is about reclaiming the role of my ancestors as knowledge keepers and healers. It’s about ensuring that the next generation of Indigenous thinkers can see themselves in labs, on research teams, in the field, and at the forefront of discovery without having to sacrifice their culture, values, or sovereignty to get there.

For non-Indigenous allies in research and academia, this is a moment to listen, learn, and act. Begin by asking not just what research can do for Indigenous communities, but what relationships it can build with them.

Let this month be more than a reflection. Let it be a recommitment to reconciliation, to respect, and to rebuilding research that uplifts inclusive innovation for the future.

Further reading: 

First Nations Information Governance Centre. (2025). The First Nations Principles of OCAP. https://fnigc.ca/ocap-training/

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. (2018). National Inuit Strategy on Research. https://www.itk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ITK-National-Inuit-Strategy-on-Research.pdf

National Aboriginal Health Organization. (n.d.). Principles of Ethical Métis Research. https://ethicshub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/13-Principles-of-Ethical-Me%CC%81tis-Research.pdf