In the Northern regions, researchers are observing an increasing presence of Indigenous women engaging in field research, which is motivating a new generation of female academics.

“Over the past two to three years, we have witnessed a significant rise in the number of Indigenous women enrolling in master’s and PhD programs,” remarked Nicole Redvers, an associate professor at Western University and a member of the Deninu Kue First Nation in the Northwest Territories. “It has been truly inspiring to witness.”

Statistics Canada reports that between 2016 and 2021, there was a notable rise in Indigenous women pursuing post-secondary education in Canada, along with an increase in the percentage of Indigenous women holding bachelor’s degrees or higher. However, there is a lack of accessible data regarding Indigenous women participating in field research in the North.

Redvers suggests that establishing a centralized university in the North would facilitate better tracking of this data across the various territories.

She identifies several reasons for the trends she observes: geopolitical focus on the Arctic, new funding opportunities, and particularly the enhanced visibility of female Indigenous researchers—a situation she described as “a significant challenge in the past.”

“If you don’t see individuals like yourself represented in fields such as research, it can be quite challenging to envision pursuing that path,” she noted.

Nicole Redvers, an associate professor at Western University and member of the Deninu Kue First Nation in the N.W.T., emphasizes that the true catalyst for change is Indigenous individuals advocating for innovative research methodologies. (Submitted by Nicole Redvers)

Disparities in education and funding are central to many of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) 94 Calls to Action. While these calls have compelled some academic institutions to confront systemic barriers historically faced by Indigenous students and researchers, Redvers asserts that the primary force behind change is not merely institutional goodwill—but rather, Indigenous people persistently advocating for transformation.

Reconciliation through academia 

Ashley Ens, a PhD student and member of the Nihtat Gwich’in in the N.W.T., expressed that Indigenous women have always been custodians of knowledge.

“What is evolving is that more women are affirming the validity of Indigenous methodologies, community knowledge, oral histories, and their responsibilities to the community,” she stated.

According to Ens, female Indigenous researchers are influencing the dynamics of academic environments by fostering supportive spaces where women can pursue their degrees while maintaining their commitments to family and community.

She shared her personal experience of pursuing a PhD while raising a young child.

“I often brought her along to my meetings and found these environments to be very welcoming,” she reminisced.

Nonetheless, Ens emphasized that institutions need to make greater efforts to facilitate change, such as providing extended funding for community-driven initiatives and offering more support for northern students attending universities in the south.

Ashley Ens, a PhD student and member of the Nihtat Gwich’in in the N.W.T., notes that female Indigenous researchers are transforming the structure of academic environments. (submitted by Ashley Ens)

“When we speak of reconciliation in research, it’s not merely about studying Indigenous Peoples or integrating Indigenous perspectives into existing projects,” Ens remarked.

“It necessitates a shift in who formulates the questions, who governs the information, who has access to resources, and who benefits from the results.”

How Indigenous women are changing research

By grounding their research in traditional knowledge and involving community members, northern researchers are fostering trust within their communities, according to Redvers.

“Indigenous communities have grown weary of the traditional research patterns,” she stated. “These typically involve researchers coming and going without establishing lasting connections.”

Laurie-Ann Lines, a senior researcher at the Yellowknife-based Institute for Circumpolar Health Research, expressed her astonishment at the “influx” of Indigenous women pursuing graduate and post-doctoral studies.

“This momentum is largely due to the elders and community members who have collaborated in research and shared our Indigenous research methodologies,” she noted.

Lines, who belongs to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, recalled that when she entered academia in 2015, there were few Indigenous academic mentors who understood both community-level research and Western academic frameworks.

Currently, Lines leads the Northwest Territories Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research, a project that unites elders, researchers, community members, and learners in the N.W.T. She asserts that this growth signifies a shift in the nature of research in the North.

“Research will no longer solely concern us,” she stated. “It will be conducted with us, by us, and for us.”