Fourth round of Indigenous Strategy grants launched

UCalgary’s Indigenous Strategy, ii’ taa’poh’to’p, has launched its fourth round of grant funding to Indigenize teaching, learning and research on campus. Applications are now being accepted for the Intercultural Capacity Building grant.

Furthering the goals and recommendations in the strategy, the grant provides funding for projects that focus on increasing intercultural capacity by disseminating Indigenous knowledge, community engagement and innovative partnerships.

Indigenous perspectives, knowledge and worldviews

Between 2018 and 2020, the grant supported 15 innovative project ideas led by various faculties, units and student organizations covering a broad scope of disciplines, special interests and cultural events. These ranged from Indigenous perspectives on astronomy and community engagement in veterinary medicine clinics, to cultural events. Projects also included traditional knowledge and advancement of Indigenous worldviews through teaching, learning and research.

Grant money awarded by the Office of the Vice-Provost (Indigenous Engagement) totalled about $150,000 over the last two years.

“The grant has been a major part of moving our campus community towards reconciliation and Indigenization of learning and teaching,” says Dr. Michael Hart, vice-provost of Indigenous engagement. “It is also relevant to how the university approaches research methods and, through these grants, the university has impacted the wider Calgary communities in meaningful ways.”

Funding starts in September 2021

Applications for the Intercultural Capacity Building Grants are open until June 1, 2021. Grants are awarded for a maximum of $10,000 per project. Initiatives selected will receive funding in September 2021 and organizers will have one year to expend funds and complete project activities outlined in their proposal submissions.

To be eligible, applicants must be registered, full-time undergraduate or graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, academic staff, non-academic staff, business/service units or faculties.

Some examples of past grant recipients:

• Wayfinding Under Blackfoot Skies, led by Jennifer Howse, BA’02, and Dr. Philip Langill, BSc’85, PhD’94, Faculty of Science. This project focused on the development of a scientific and Indigenous-themed outdoor experiential program for youth.
• Stoney Nakoda animal health education partnerships led by Dr. Catherine Wagg, DVM, and Dr. Susan Kutz, DVM, PhD, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. This program offers hands-on, activity-focused educational experiences to school-aged children, showcasing what it is to be a veterinarian. This initiative also involved working with community Elders to promote two-way teaching and learning between non-Indigenous and Indigenous participants.
• Traditional Knowledge Keepers in Residence led by Dr. Lynden Crowshoe, MD, and Dr. Dianne Mosher, MD, Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). This new initiative offers residence for up to 12 Traditional Knowledge Keepers from the Treaty 7 Region and beyond to engage in one-on-one meetings, regular ceremony, teaching and workshops, strengthen protocol at events, and build relationships with CSM.

For more information about the Indigenous Strategy, previous grant recipients, and the ii’ taa’poh’to’p internal grants program, please visit the Indigenous Engagement website.