Created by Aylin Arzola Salazar
Jan. 29, 2024
Research proposal written entirely in Cree language receives federal funding
A Faculty of Social Work research funding proposal written entirely in 苍别虃丑颈测补飞别飞颈苍, the Cree language, has been approved for funding by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to demonstrate their commitment to supporting Indigenous languages in government-funded opportunities. This is the first proposal submitted exclusively in an Indigenous language to be funded by a federal funding agency.听
The research project鈥檚 long-term goal is for Indigenous service providers, such as Children鈥檚 Services and other agencies, to understand the vital role that ceremony, language, and protocol play in healing. The project鈥檚 focus was born from the team鈥檚 extensive research and practice experience, which revealed that the languages, protocol, stories, and ceremonies of Indigenous Peoples are integral to the healing process, providing insight into a distinct worldview parallel to the Western perspective. 听
Reconciliation through research
鈥淲e鈥檝e been focused on Western worldviews, and we need a growing understanding (in social work) of Indigenous values and beliefs,鈥 says Kristina Kopp (芒辫颈丑迟补飞颈办辞蝉颈蝉芒苍), who is part of the research team.听
Team member Stephanie Tyler (nisoyahk ohci)听echoed this sentiment, saying, 鈥淲ith social work鈥檚 negative history with Indigenous communities, this is an opportunity to engage in consistent acts of reconciliation.鈥
Elder Dr. Leona Makokis (nocikwesiw), EdD, alongside Dr. Ralph Bodor (osk芒p锚wsis), PhD, with Kristina Kopp (芒辫颈丑迟补飞颈办辞蝉颈蝉芒苍), PhD candidate, and Stephanie Tyler (nisoyahk ohci), PhD candidate, were the driving forces behind the proposal. Their primary goal was to ensure that Indigenous language and culture was represented and valued within the evaluation process.
鈥淲e never applied with the main goal of receiving funding.听Our goal was to be evaluated fairly.听That鈥檚 the goal we achieved, that鈥檚 our dream,鈥 says听Bodor, adjunct associate professor in the Faculty of Social Work.
The team is adamant that there is an overrepresentation of Western worldviews, values, and beliefs in the lives of Indigenous Peoples. The success of this project is a small step toward correcting that over-representation.
Grant application journey
The project titled听encountered its share of challenges. The first application of the project faced a setback when it was stopped at the administrative level by SSHRC due to the proposal not being written or provided a translation in French or English.听
There was not an existing pathway for review, but the team established a direct connection to the funding agency to explore the idea of creating one.
The team made a second submission, and another hurdle emerged.听SSHRC gathered Indigenous scholars who were fluent in Cree to assist with evaluating the project; however, due partly to history and context, some Cree language speakers are not comfortable when the language is written in Roman Orthography.听The research team responded by preparing an oral recording of the entire research proposal (in Cree), with each member recording sections of the application for review, which was evaluated by SSHRC reviewers.
SSHRC says this project is a milestone for SSHRC-funded research. 鈥淎s the first Cree-language application to undergo merit review, as we move forward in our support of Indigenous research, pilot projects such as this will be invaluable in exploring new ways of strengthening Indigenous research capacity in Canada,鈥 says Ted Hewitt, president of SSHRC.
草莓污视频导航 Vice-President (Research) Dr. William Ghali echoes the importance of this milestone and sees this project as being in alignment with听草莓污视频导航鈥檚听ii' taa'poh'to'p Indigenous strategy, specifically with the recommendation around preserving Indigenous culture through languages in research.
鈥淚 appreciate SSHRC鈥檚 response, enabling this important application to undergo merit review in 苍别虃丑颈测补飞别飞颈苍. The 草莓污视频导航 is committed to supporting Indigenous languages, traditions, and methodologies, and we congratulate the research team for their perseverance and dedication,鈥 he says.听
"Language creates our understanding of the world.听 草莓污视频导航 is committed to supporting the team as they move forward in preserving Indigenous languages in research.鈥
Importance of language听
It was important to the research team to submit the proposal in the Cree language, 苍别虃丑颈测补飞别飞颈苍, as translating it into听English would significantly change the meaning of the project. 苍别虃丑颈测补飞别飞颈苍, unlike English, functions as a language of verbs, emphasizing connections, ceremony, and relationships.听Project members, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, have been learning Cree as a part of their commitment to the work. They put their language skills into practice with the grant proposal in both its written and oral submissions. 听听
Bodor highlights the critical role of language, saying, "Language creates reality, and Western language creates a Western reality that is not an Indigenous reality, whereas 苍别虃丑颈测补飞别飞颈苍听creates a different reality."
Elder Leona, who is part of the research team,听recalls having to relearn her language due to her time in a residential school and says this project moving forward听is a vision that is coming true.听听
She emphasized that things from the Cree language don鈥檛 translate easily into English. 鈥淥ur understanding of the world is very different. The whole misunderstanding that happened in our treaties was due to language. In Cree, we don鈥檛 have a word for selling. We have sharing. So many concepts are different,鈥 she says.
Next steps
With the grant secured, the next steps involve initiating the project in ceremony to begin in a good way.听
The team is now working with the university鈥檚 Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board (CFREB), the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST), and the Research Service鈥檚 Ethics and Compliance team to develop a parallel ethics application with the intention of paving the way for future Indigenous research projects.听As this unique initiative takes its first steps, it opens the door to a future where Indigenous languages are not just preserved but thrive and are honoured.
isihcikewin e apatak ka natah卯we: atoskatamik tanisi kesi p卯tos kiskinohamake applied for a SSHRC Insight Development Grant and was successful in obtaining a SSHRC Special Initiatives grant.