A surge in female Indigenous students pursuing advanced degrees in the North is fueling a wave of female scholars, according to researchers. Nicole Redvers, an associate professor at Western University and member of the Deninu Kue First Nation in the N.W.T., noted a significant increase in the enrollment of female Indigenous students in masters and PhD programs over the past few years.
While Statistics Canada reports a rise in the number of Indigenous women engaging in post-secondary education in Canada from 2016 to 2021, there is a lack of specific data on the participation of Indigenous women in field research in the North. Redvers suggests that a centralized university in the North would facilitate the tracking of such information across all territories.
The growing interest in the Arctic, new funding opportunities, and the heightened visibility of female Indigenous researchers are cited as key factors driving this trend. Redvers emphasizes the importance of representation in research spaces, highlighting the impact of seeing oneself reflected in academia.
The push for change in academia is led by Indigenous individuals advocating for new research approaches. Ashley Ens, a PhD student and member of the Nihtat Gwich’in in the N.W.T., stresses the importance of recognizing Indigenous methodologies and community knowledge. Female Indigenous researchers are reshaping academic environments to support women balancing academic pursuits with family and community commitments.
Ens emphasizes the need for institutions to provide sustained funding for community-led projects and support for northern students to access education in southern universities. The shift towards reconciliation through research involves empowering Indigenous communities in determining research questions, controlling information, allocating resources, and benefiting from research outcomes.
By integrating traditional knowledge and community involvement in their research, northern researchers are fostering trust within Indigenous communities. Laurie-Ann Lines, a senior researcher at the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research in Yellowknife, highlights the increasing presence of Indigenous female graduate and post-doctorate students. The collaboration between elders, community members, and researchers is driving a transformation in research practices in the North, ensuring that research is conducted with and for Indigenous communities.