A surge in female Indigenous students pursuing advanced degrees has been observed by researchers in northern regions, sparking enthusiasm among female scholars. Nicole Redvers, an associate professor at Western University and a Deninu Kue First Nation member in the N.W.T., noted a significant rise in female Indigenous students enrolling in masters and PhD programs in recent years. While Statistics Canada reports an increase in Indigenous women pursuing higher education in Canada between 2016 and 2021, specific data on Indigenous women engaged in field research in the North is currently unavailable.
Redvers advocates for a centralized university in the North to facilitate comprehensive tracking of such information across all territories. The trend of growing female Indigenous researchers is attributed to various factors including Arctic geopolitical interest, new funding opportunities, and the heightened visibility of female Indigenous researchers, which was previously a challenge.
Education and funding disparities are central issues addressed in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. Redvers emphasizes that the impetus for change comes from Indigenous communities pushing for transformation, rather than solely relying on institutional goodwill.
Ashley Ens, a PhD student and Nihtat Gwich’in member from the N.W.T., highlighted the evolving role of Indigenous women as knowledge holders, emphasizing the assertion of Indigenous methodologies and community knowledge legitimacy. Female Indigenous researchers are reshaping academic environments to support women in pursuing degrees while honoring their family and community responsibilities.
Although progress has been made, Ens stresses the need for institutions to do more by offering sustained funding for community-led projects and enhancing support for northern students attending southern universities. She emphasizes that true reconciliation through research involves shifting power dynamics in determining research questions, information control, resource allocation, and benefits distribution.
By incorporating traditional knowledge and engaging community members in their research, northern researchers are fostering trust within communities, according to Redvers. Laurie-Ann Lines, a senior researcher at the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research in Yellowknife, expressed admiration for the increasing presence of Indigenous female graduate and post-doctorate students. Lines, a member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, noted the essential role of elders and community members in sharing Indigenous research methodologies, propelling the transformation of research practices in the North.
The evolution of research practices in the North is evident through initiatives like the Northwest Territories Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research, led by Lines, which unites elders, researchers, community members, and learners. This collaborative approach signifies a shift towards research conducted with and for Indigenous communities, rather than merely about them.