Research & Education

Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research

NORTHERN CANADA

Northern non-profit that focuses on food security and food sovereignty, healthy  lifestyles, youth engagement and mental health, and climate change adaptation  based in Whitehorse; see website for full list of projects, workshops,  reports, healthy living program inventory, and climate change and food  systems initiative map

Confederation College

Canada +

Post-secondary institution of about 7200 students with a main campus in Thunder Bay and  eight regional campuses; houses the Centre for Policy and Research in  Indigenous Learning, offers safe food handling courses as well as  Indigenous-specific and general programs in sustainable food topics

First Nations Development Institute (US)

US

Grantmaker focusing on improving economic conditions for Native Americans through direct financing, technical support and training, and advocacy and policy with locations in Colorado and New Mexico; programs include Nourishing Native Foods & Health, among others, and the institute houses a Knowledge Centre, Grantmaking Program and Resources for Grantseekers

Lakehead District School Board

Thunder Bay

Public school board responsible for core programming from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 and adult education for students over 18 (28 schools in total); houses an Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee and an Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer

Lakehead University

Canada +

Post-secondary institution of about 8,700 students with campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia; houses the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Committee, Food Security Committee, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Food Security Research Network, as well as a range of programs of study and research projects

Laurentian University - Up North on Climate: Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Study for the North of Ontario

Northern  ON

Based out of the School of the Environment at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Up North on Climate is focused on improving capacity and education around climate change in partnership with First Nations and their Tribal Councils in the province's far north through the combination of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and western science

Matawa Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Emplyment and Training Services (KKETS)

Matawa  Tribal Council community members

Based in Thunder Bay, KKETS provides relevant training, education and employment opportunities within service area; houses the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy, Aboriginal Skills Advancement Program, Nishnawbe Education and Training (includes Kitchen Helper Program) and Employment Integration Services Program

Nechi Institute, Centre of Indigenous Learning

Alberta/Canada

Non-profit  in Edmonton/St. Albert focusing on Indigenous Wellness Training for  Indigenous communities in Alberta and throughout Canada; includes four main  courses as well as a range of specialty courses

Nordik Institute

Northern  ON

Run out of Algoma University and the Community Economic and Social Development  program in Sault Ste. Marie, institute works with communities to solve relevant issues for municipalities, First Nations and community organizations  in northern ON through business, organizational and community development support; houses a range of projects in partnership with Indigenous  communities around food systems including the Rural Agri-Innovation Network  (see Networks sheet), Healthy Eating, Active Living & Smoking Cessation, and more

Northern Nishnawbe Education Council

Sioux  Lookout District +

First Nations, band-empowered non-profit offering secondary and postsecondary  education; services 23 First Nation communities through Pelican Falls First Nations High School and Centre (Sioux Lookout), Dennis Franklin Cromarty High  School (Thunder Bay), and Wahsa Distance Education Centre (Sioux Lookout) with the head office in Lac Seul First Nation

Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Northern  ON

Non-profit serving as the faculty of medicine for Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and Laurentian University in Sudbury; mandated to be accountable to Indigenous communities in the region and responsible for Indigenous community profiles and interactive Indigenous community partnership map, among other joint initiatives

Northern Policy Institute

Northern  ON

Independent think tank with offices in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury that conducts research, collects and distributes data and indentifies policy opportunities around six priority areas towards sustainable communities in the region; houses community accounts, northern infrastructure map, census tools and a wide range of research resources and publications, including those for and about Indigenous Peoples

Oshki-Pinache-O-Win / The Wenjack Education Institute

NAN  +

Aboriginal post-secondary education and training institute for community members of Nishnawbe Aski Nation and other learners with a main office in Fort William First Nation and campus in Thunder Bay; offers a range of programs, workshops and webinars 

Shkoday Abinojiiwak Obimiwedoon-Thunder Bay Aboriginal Head Start

Thunder  Bay & Area +

Community based organization serving Aboriginal children and youth 18 months to 18 years old in scholastic and culteral education; programs include Biwaase'aa and Aboriginal Head Start 

Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board

THUNDER BAY

Faith-based  school board responsible for education in 20 schools in Thunder Bay; houses  an Aboriginal Student Counsellor program in senior elementary schools and  high schools, a Native Language program in 10 schools, and an Aboriginal  Education Advisory Committee

University of Guelph - Arrell Food Institute

Based out of the University of Guelph, institute serves as a portal for food expertise through industry research, training and collaboration across a range of fields of study among Canadian and global partners; responsible for Alma Aquaculture Research Station among other initiatives