Walking Together: Indigenous Social Research That Makes a Difference
Indigenous Social Research
Empowering communities to drive informed decision making while navigating complex social and economic landscapes
Empowering Communities Through Knowledge Sovereignty
We partner with communities to transform traditional knowledge into powerful tools for self-determination and sustainable development.
We don't just conduct research; we build lasting partnerships. By placing Indigenous voices at the heart of every project, we ensure that our work reflects the true needs, aspirations, and wisdom of the communities we serve. Our team works hand-in-hand with Elders, community leaders, and members to design research initiatives that honor traditional knowledge while delivering actionable insights for today's challenges.
Walking Together:
Our Journey Together
Our Indigenous Social Research services provide a holistic and culturally sensitive approach to understanding and addressing the needs of Indigenous communities. Rooted in respect for traditional knowledge and values, we integrate academic rigor with community-based methodologies to ensure our research is both meaningful and actionable.
Our team collaborates closely with community members, Elders, and leaders to design studies that reflect their unique perspectives and aspirations. Whether conducting needs assessments, evaluating social programs, or documenting oral histories, we prioritize ethical engagement, transparency, and the co-creation of knowledge.
Our Indigenous Social Research methodology:
• Centers Indigenous voices, knowledge systems, and ways of knowing
• Establishes equal partnerships with communities
• Ensures research benefits flow directly back to participating communities
• Bridges traditional wisdom with contemporary research methods
• Supports Indigenous data sovereignty
Indigenous Research
Bridging Traditional Wisdom with Modern Research
Your Knowledge, Your Power
In addition to community-driven initiatives, we bridge the gap between academia and industry by delivering tailored research solutions for organizations seeking to better serve Indigenous populations. Our expertise spans a variety of domains, including health, education, economic development, and cultural preservation.
By combining qualitative and quantitative research methods, we deliver insights that inform policy development, strategic planning, and program implementation. Through our work, we aim to empower communities and contribute to the advancement of social equity and cultural sustainability.
Value to Your Community:
We're partners in empowering Indigenous communities to drive informed decision-making while navigating complex social and economic landscapes, we integrate traditional knowledge into socio-economic research to amplify Indigenous voices, so communities can shape their own narratives.
Our research services:
• Academic Research
• Industry Research
• Community-Based Research
• Needs Assessment
Through careful integration of traditional knowledge and modern research methodologies, we help create more accurate and nuanced understandings of community challenges and opportunities.
Our approach puts your community at the heart of every project, ensuring that research leads to tangible benefits and supports your journey of self-determination.
Your Knowledge, Your Power
We're not just researchers – we're partners in your community's journey towards self-determination. Our services are designed to help clients understand the full range of social and economic implications, ensuring informed decision-making and sustainable development.
Knowledge Sovereignty
By recognizing and prioritizing knowledge sovereignty, we ensure that communities maintain control over their cultural and intellectual property throughout the research process. The research process itself becomes a tool for community empowerment, building local capacity and strengthening cultural connections.
Academic Research
Academic Excellence with Indigenous Wisdom
Our Indigenous-based academic research services are grounded in the principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) and the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2), including Chapter 9, which focuses on research with Indigenous peoples.
We work collaboratively with Indigenous communities to design and implement research that respects their sovereignty over data and knowledge systems.
By honoring OCAP® principles, we ensure that communities retain ownership of their information, have full control over the research process, and dictate how the findings are accessed and shared. This approach fosters trust, ethical integrity, and mutual respect, creating meaningful partnerships that prioritize the well-being and autonomy of Indigenous peoples.
Academic Excellence
with Indigenous Wisdom
Bridge the gap between academic rigor and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Our research spans diverse academic disciplines, addressing community-identified priorities in areas such as health, education, language preservation, and environmental stewardship. We integrate Indigenous methodologies and ways of knowing with rigorous academic standards to produce results that are culturally relevant and academically robust.
By adhering to the Tri-Council Policy principles, we ensure that our research is conducted ethically, with informed consent and respect for Indigenous governance and protocols. Through this collaborative approach, we aim to contribute to academic scholarship while empowering Indigenous communities to drive change, preserve cultural heritage, and achieve their aspirations.
research that is both scientifically sound and culturally meaningful
• Full alignment with OCAP® principles (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession)
• Collaborative research design that integrates Indigenous methodologies
• Focus areas including health, education, language preservation, and environmental
stewardship
• Community-owned outcomes that drive meaningful change
Research that isn't conducted on communities, but with them.
We understand that true empowerment comes from owning and directing your community's story and data — This approach ensures that research isn't conducted on communities, but with them.
Industry Research
We serve as a bridge between Indigenous communities and industry partners
Our Indigenous-based industry research services are designed to foster economic reconciliation and promote meaningful inclusion of Indigenous communities within industry sectors. We work closely with Indigenous leaders, businesses, and organizations to identify opportunities for economic development that align with their values, traditions, and aspirations.
By conducting research that integrates Indigenous input and insights with market and industry analysis, we provide actionable insights that support sustainable growth, equitable partnerships, and the advancement of Indigenous economic empowerment. Our approach prioritizes relationship-building and co-creation, ensuring that outcomes are not only viable but also culturally and socially relevant.
Industry Partnership
Development
Advancing Reconciliation
With a commitment to advancing reconciliation, we help industries foster respectful and equitable collaborations with Indigenous communities. Our research services include industry needs assessments, policy analysis, workforce inclusion strategies, and the development of culturally informed business models.
By addressing barriers to inclusion and creating pathways for mutual benefit, we empower industries to contribute to the broader goals of reconciliation. Through this work, we help bridge gaps, build trust, and create shared prosperity, ensuring that Indigenous voices and priorities are at the forefront.
Create pathways to economic reconciliation through research that builds understanding and mutual benefit:
• Economic development strategies aligned with Indigenous values and traditions
• Workforce inclusion programs that create lasting opportunities
• Policy analysis and recommendations for meaningful engagement
• Cultural awareness integration for industry partners
We work to amplify Indigenous voices and enable communities to drive informed decision making while navigating complex social and economic landscapes.
Every step we take is in service of Indigenous self-determination and community empowerment.
Community-Based
Research
Culturally relevant research that empowers communities, strengthens cultural continuity
Our Indigenous-led community-based research services prioritize the voices, knowledge, and leadership of Indigenous communities at every stage of the research process. Rooted in principles of respect, reciprocity, and self-determination, we collaborate with communities to design and implement research projects that address their priorities and aspirations.
By building strong relationships and fostering mutual trust, we ensure that research outcomes are meaningful, actionable, and directly benefit the communities involved. This approach emphasizes co-creation, where community members are not just participants but equal partners in the research process.
Indigenous Community-Based
Research Services
self-determined solutions to contemporary challenges.
Central to our work is the application of Indigenous research methodologies, which honor traditional knowledge systems, cultural practices, and holistic worldviews. These methodologies prioritize storytelling, relational accountability, and participatory approaches that reflect Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
Assignments are tailored to incorporate practices such as oral history collection, land-based learning, and ceremony, ensuring that research aligns with community protocols and values. By grounding our work in these methodologies, we create culturally relevant research that empowers communities, strengthens cultural continuity, and supports self-determined solutions to contemporary challenges.
Our Indigenous-led approach ensures that your community's voice shapes every step of the journey:
• Participatory research design that integrates traditional knowledge systems with proven methodologies
• Cultural preservation initiatives that strengthen intergenerational connections
• Land-based learning programs that honor traditional practices
• Storytelling and oral history documentation that preserves precious cultural knowledge
Through careful integration of traditional knowledge and modern research methodologies, we help create more accurate and nuanced understandings of community challenges and opportunities.
Needs Assessment
Designed to support organizations across diverse sectors
Our Indigenous-based needs assessment services are designed to support organizations across diverse sectors, including training, social services, healthcare, legal, professional associations, and industry groups. Grounded in cultural understanding and respect, our assessments identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities that are unique to Indigenous communities and stakeholders.
We collaborate closely with community members, leaders, and organizations to gather insights and co-create actionable strategies that align with their values, priorities, and aspirations. This inclusive and culturally sensitive approach ensures that the outcomes are both impactful and meaningful for all stakeholders.
Comprehensive
Needs Assessment
Understand the real needs of Indigenous communities through culturally-informed evaluation
Using Indigenous knowledge systems alongside contemporary research methodologies, we provide comprehensive assessments tailored to the specific needs of each sector. Whether it's identifying workforce training requirements, enhancing social services delivery, addressing health disparities, or fostering more inclusive industry practices, our work ensures that solutions are culturally informed and practical.
By integrating traditional perspectives with sector-specific expertise, our assessments empower organizations to build stronger relationships with Indigenous communities, promote equity, and deliver programs and services that truly reflect the needs and aspirations of those they aim to serve.
Our comprehensive assessment services deliver:
• Tailored assessments for training, healthcare, social services, and legal sectors
• Integration of traditional knowledge in program development
• Actionable insights that drive positive change
• Strategic planning support for Indigenous-led initiatives
How We're Different:
• We move at the pace of the community, not academic or corporate timelines
• Our researchers are trained in indigenous protocols and cultural safety
• Our goal is community empowerment, not just data collection
• Prioritizing indigenous languages and ways of knowing throughout the process
We help you create plans that maintain your sacred connection to the land while meeting your community's evolving need
Get Started Today
Picture a circle of Elders gathered around a crackling fire, sharing stories that have been passed down through generations. Now imagine those same stories being woven together with contemporary data to create powerful tools for community decision-making - This is where our journey begins.
Our Promise to You:
- Unwavering respect for Indigenous protocols and traditional knowledge
- Transparent communication at every step of the journey
- Flexible approaches that adapt to your community's unique needs
- Commitment to building lasting capacity within your community
Looking Forward Together :
Our team approaches every project with cultural humility, ready to learn from the communities we serve while sharing our expertise in ways that empower and elevate. Every great journey begins with a conversation. Reach out to discover how we can support your community's vision for the future.