Cree Nation Research Institute Project

Research stands as a powerful tool for the self-governance and self-determination of the Cree Nation. It can play a fundamental role in informed decision-making, cultural preservation, economic development, and the overall resilience of the Cree Nation. When well managed and designed with the benefits of Eeyouch in mind, research can help address needs and concerns significant to individual communities and organizations or for the territory as a whole.

Historically, research in Eeyou Istchee has been initiated and planned outside the region without Cree oversight. Over the last decade, Crees have worked wholeheartedly towards reappropriating the management of research and developing research strategies of their own through community-based initiatives or codeveloped research projects. Still, many gaps remain to be addressed for the Cree Nation to fully benefit from research on its territory.

Consultations with Cree communities and organizations within the Eeyou Istchee territory are currently taking place to shape the trajectory of the CNRI and to define its core objectives and mandates. These deliberations serve as a dynamic platform for collective decision-making and understanding how CNRI can effectively support the research endeavours of Cree communities and organizations. Preliminary considerations guiding the ongoing consultation include:

• Exercising the inherent right of the Cree Nation to control research in Eeyou Istchee;
• Protecting Cree knowledge and Cree intellectual property;
• Repatriating data and research products in an appropriate and accessible form;
• Developing a framework to maximize the benefits of research outcomes for Eeyouch,
• Supporting capacity-building efforts in the region and facilitating community-led research endeavours.

The heart of these consultations lies in the collaborative definition of CNRI’s mandates. By engaging in meaningful discussions, the project team aims to crystallize a set of goals that resonates with the aspirations of the Cree communities and the Cree organizations. This process ensures that CNRI’s objectives are not predetermined, but organically evolve from the insights gathered during the consultation phase. As the consultation phase progresses, the insights gained will pave the way for the formalization of CNRI’s objectives, mandates, and support mechanisms.

The main outcomes of the preliminary consultations were the identification of three main mandates for the new entity which were presented to the Cree Nation at  the Forum on Research in Eeyou Istchee

These mandates aim to ensure research conducted in Eeyou Istchee is aligned with the Cree Nation’s goals and provide a tangible benefit to the communities.

I. Coordination of Cree Research and Review Processes

Ewiipayihtaakanuuhch miin ekanuwaapahtakanuuhch eeyiyou naanituchischeihtamuwin
ᐁᐐᐸᔨᐦᑖᑲᓅᐦᒡ ᒦᓐ ᐁᑲᓄᐙᐸᐦᑕᑲᓅᐦᒡ ᐁᐁᔨᔫ ᓈᓂᑐᒋᔅᒉᐃᐦᑕᒧᐎᓐ

II. Eeyou Data Governance and Access

Eishipish chischeyihtaakuhch iyiyuu tipeyihchichewin nesht ant wehtinikanuuhch
ᐁᐃᔑᐱᔥ ᒋᔅᒉᔨᐦᑖᑯᐦᒡ ᐃᔨᔫ ᑎᐯᔨᐦᒋᒉᐎᓐ ᓀᔥᑦ ᐊᓐᑦ ᐌᐦᑎᓂᑲᓅᐦᒡ

III. Regional Research and Capacity Building

Misihte enaanituchischeihtaakanuuhch eustaakanuuhch kaschihuuwin
ᒥᓯᐦᑌ ᐁᓈᓂᑐᒋᔅᒉᐃᐦᑖᑲᓅᐦc ᐦ ᐁᐅᔅᑖᑲᓅᐦᒡ ᑲᔅᒋᐦᐆᐎᓐ