2025/01/01 by Carmen Wong, Lawrence Ignace, G. I. Johnson +2 · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Social Sciences · #Conservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education #Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights #Race, Genetics, and Society
paper · pdf · doi:10.1139/facets-2025-0178
openalex publication_date 2025/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/11/23 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Five years ago, we published a paper that proposed 10 Calls to Action aimed at enabling reconciliation in the natural sciences research arena in Canada. Our goal was to provide a starting point for those aiming to build reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and communities into science. The 10 calls were inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 Calls to Action. There was, and remains, a demand for such guidance as indicated by the paper's 74 000 (and growing) downloads; it is currently FACETS most downloaded paper. As a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous authors, we now reflect on progress made as well as ongoing challenges and opportunities. Our reflections are framed by four questions posed by the late Mazina Giizhik-iban, Murray Sinclair: 1) Where did we come from; 2) Where are we going; 3) Why are we here; 4) Who are we?, and stem from an overview of federal government initiatives, document analysis of university strategic plans, and experiences leading dozens of question-and-answer sessions on the original paper and a follow-up film. We identify a need for personal engagement and the centering of Indigenous self-determination in research, and propose two new calls to action.