Mitacs and Kenjgewin Teg Demonstrate Commitment to Inclusive Innovation Supporting New Indigenous Research

M’Chigeeng, ON— Mitacs, a leading Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to fostering innovation and research, proudly announces a key partnership with Kenjgewin Teg, an accredited Indigenous-led and governed post-secondary institution in Ontario. This new alliance marks a significant stride in Mitacs’s promise to support inclusive innovation by design and collaborate with Indigenous institutions that are closely connected to communities to advance impactful research that reflects their unique perspectives, values, and ways of being. 

In addition to the new Mitacs alliance, Kenjgewin Teg is also eligible to access research funding support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), a federal research funding agency. As one of nine Indigenous Institutes in Ontario, this recognition is a testament to Kenjgewin Teg’s dedication to emerging Indigenous (Anishinabek) research opportunities, with a key focus being on new research projects related to Indigenous languages and culture. 

This partnership will enable Kenjgewin Teg staff and students to access Mitacs funding opportunities and benefit from a wide range of programs and training. Additionally, the agreement creates opportunities for funding for Kenjgewin Teg’s partner organizations in various sectors, including industry, non-profit, municipalities, and hospitals, further advancing Indigenous-driven research. 

Mitacs emphasizes the significance of this partnership as a meaningful step towards demonstrating its commitment to driving inclusive innovation and working together in a good way. The collaboration aligns with Mitacs’s Inclusive Innovation Action Plan (IIAP), highlighting the organization’s dedication to decolonization as one of its core values.  

Anticipating the positive outcomes of this partnership, Mitacs and Kenjgewin Teg look forward to mutual growth in Indigenous and rural research development opportunities. The collaboration strives to create additional opportunities for Indigenous researchers and students to actively engage and expand their involvement in new and diverse areas of research and innovation. 

Mitacs is thrilled about the prospects of this collaboration and looks forward to participating in the advancement of Indigenous/Anishinabek research within Ontario’s post-secondary sector. Eligibility for the partnership extends to Kenjgewin Teg students and recent graduates (up to two years out), with the partnership commencing from the signing date of December 2023. 

Quotes  

“Kenjgewin Teg is excited to continue building a solid foundation as we begin moving forward in Anishinabek research in ways that are relevant and useful not only to Anishinabek education but to our Nation too.  An important part of this work includes attracting and recruiting Indigenous and Anishinabek researchers, scholars, and graduate students to help us identify research priorities for the benefit of future generations.  Without any doubt, our new agreement with Mitacs is another step that will help us get there.”

Beverley Roy, President, Kenjgewin Teg

“This partnership with Kenjgewin Teg signals Mitacs’s commitment to fostering an environment where diverse voices and perspectives drive innovation. We are eager to co-create meaningful research opportunities together that reflect the rich tapestry of Indigenous knowledge and experiences within the academic landscape.”

David Plamondon, Senior Advisor, Indigenous Relations and Initiatives, Mitacs 

About Kenjgewin Teg

Situated on the picturesque Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island) in Northern Ontario, Kenjgewin Teg remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Grounded in the rich history, ancestral knowledge, stories, and traditional teachings of the land, Kenjgewin Teg is dedicated to nurturing students’ identities and sharing the richness of the Anishinabek language (Anishinabemowin), culture, and tradition.

Kenjgewin Teg is one of nine Indigenous Institutes in Ontario recognized under the Indigenous Institutes Act of 2017. In January 2022, Kenjgewin Teg was declared an accredited Indigenous Institute in Ontario by the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council (IAESC). 

Learn more at kenjgewinteg.ca 

About Mitacs 

Mitacs empowers Canadian innovation through effective partnerships that deliver solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Mitacs assists organizations in reaching their goals, funds cutting-edge innovation, and creates job opportunities for students and postdocs.  

A not-for-profit organization, Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.  

Learn more at mitacs.ca.  

 

 

 

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