Carleton University will hold a two-day pilot session this August to prepare for a unique 10-day Summer Institute on Aboriginal Research Ethics planned for 2015.
In a first for a Canadian university, Carleton will offer the professional institute to equip researchers of all kinds with tools to implement ethical practices when working with Aboriginal communities or conducting research on traditional Aboriginal territory.
“Positive action and change require research and we want to build an understanding of ethical best practices around the life cycle of Aboriginal research,” said Katherine Graham, senior advisor to the provost. “It is important that researchers have this in their tool kits.”
Carleton has received support to develop the institute from the Government of Canada’s Secretariat for Responsible Research, which provided $50,000. Some 30 academic and non-academic researchers and members of community organizations will be involved in the pilot session to develop next year’s full program.
Building on the advances Aboriginal communities have made in governing their own research, Carleton has the expertise and capacity to deliver a curriculum that will provide a solid grounding in regulatory awareness and compliance for all groups who seek it, including businesses, non-profits and non-governmental organizations. The curriculum is also intended engage Aboriginal communities and organizations to build bridges on ethical research.
The university’s goal is to share knowledge and maintain rigorous standards of cultural awareness as it seeks to expand its base to international researchers who engage in projects that directly affect Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
“This is another great example of Carleton’s leadership on Aboriginal issues and the importance the university places on working with communities in ways that are ethical and respectful of our protocols,” said Rodney Nelson, co-chair of Carleton’s Aboriginal Education Council and a Carleton faculty member.
Supporting Aboriginal communities, promoting cultural awareness and positioning Carleton as a university of choice for Aboriginal students and faculty is a key goal of Carleton’s Strategic Integrated Plan.
For more information on Carleton’s Aboriginal initiatives, please go to: Carleton.ca/aboriginal.
For more information:
Chris Cline
Media Relations Officer
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
Christopher.Cline@Carleton.ca