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Indigenous Capacity and Leadership in Research Connection Grants: September 2025 Competition

Overview
Value Up to $50,000
Duration 1 Year (with option to extend by one year with no additional funding)
Application deadlineFootnote * September 23, 2025 (8 p.m. eastern)
Results announced February 2026
Apply Application form and instructions

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Webinar
Date Time (eastern) Language
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 1 p.m. - 3 p.m English

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Thursday, June 26, 2025 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m French

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Note: No registration is required to attend and the session will not be recorded. To receive a copy of the webinar information, please contact SSHRC.

Context

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its Calls to Action. They highlighted the important role of research in advancing reconciliation. Two years later, the Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) was created to improve coordination efforts among Canada’s federal research granting agencies—the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)—as well as the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Following on CRCC priorities, a national dialogue was held to co-develop new, interdisciplinary Indigenous research and a research training model with Indigenous communities. The approach led to the implementation of the Strengthening Indigenous Research Capacity (SIRC) initiative.

A collaborative tri-agency initiative, SIRC’s strategic direction is focused on:

In Budget 2024, the federal government committed $30 million to support Indigenous researchers and their communities. This investment aims to support and increase Indigenous participation in research with $10 million each for First Nations, Métis and Inuit researchers and research partners. In this context, the agencies have sought to create new funding opportunities committed to Indigenous self-determination, the decolonization of research, and more equitable access and support for Indigenous participants in research.

Description

The Indigenous Capacity and Leadership in Research (ICLR) Connection Grants will contribute to Indigenous leadership and self-determination in research. The events and activities funded represent opportunities to engage and exchange knowledge on successful ways of conducting Indigenous research that are transformative and contribute to Indigenous-led research, including wholistic and distinctions-based approaches.

This funding opportunity aligns with the tri-agency Setting New Directions to Support Indigenous Research and Research Training in Canada strategic plan and Indigenous communities’ aspirations to provide support for transformative research and training that contributes to innovation and reconciliation.

More specifically, it aims to:

All of the grants for this funding opportunity are reserved for First Nations or Métis not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous not-for-profit organizations serving more than one distinction, or Indigenous postsecondary institutions. The portion of the federal budget commitment dedicated to the Inuit Peoples will be allocated through a separate funding mechanism.

In the case of an application to an individual grant, the project director must be affiliated with one of these eligible organizations/institutions. (See Applicants and Institutions details below for more information on institutional and individual grant eligibility.)

This funding opportunity invites applications in any discipline from institutional or individual applicants affiliated with First Nations or Métis not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous not-for-profit organizations serving more than one distinction, or Indigenous postsecondary institutions. All projects must have the objective of informing and contributing to the development and growth of research strategic plans and activities to support distinctions-based leadership and self-determination in research.

The ICLR Connection Grants affirm the important wholistic contributions to human knowledge made by Indigenous knowledge systems within a First Nations and Métis context. Furthermore, the funding opportunity emphasizes Métis and First Nations knowledge systems, including ontologies, epistemologies and methodologies, as important avenues for exploring the contours of knowledge, supporting research paradigms, and contributing to collaboration that extends the boundaries of knowledge in western research paradigms. These grants will support relationships with land, spirits and ancestors, as well as more-than-human relatives. Applicants are encouraged to submit projects that are wholistic and reflect the full range of collaboration across disciplines and subject areas pertaining to the social sciences and humanities; natural sciences and engineering; and health and wellness. Funding will support community gatherings, workshops or other events, or outreach activities that mobilize existing knowledge; facilitate dialogue and knowledge sharing; and result in the preparation of a research agenda, strategy and/or action plan, among other things.

Expected outcomes

ICLR Connection Grants support a wide range of events and outreach activities geared toward initiatives that contribute to and support wholistic research strategies, capacity growth, self-determination and leadership for First Nations and Métis communities to conduct research by:

Value and duration

ICLR Connection Grants are valued at a maximum of $50,000 for one year (including indirect costs). See details in Specific rules for the use of grant funds).

A one-year automatic grant extension without additional funding is also available under this funding opportunity.

Eligibility

Subject matter

Proposals are intended to be wholistic, involving any discipline, thematic area, approach or subject area. They should be guided by strategic themes that have emerged from the three federal research granting agencies’ ongoing engagement with First Nations and/or Métis communities, as well as with communities that include more than one distinction, and the priorities of those communities.

This funding opportunity’s themes focus on areas where grants can contribute to growing the capacity and leadership of First Nations and Métis communities to conduct research and partner with the broader research community, as well as the capacity of the broader research community to engage respectfully with the knowledge and worldviews of Métis and First Nations Peoples. Applicants to the ICLR Connection Grants are encouraged to organize wholistic events, outreach activities, or a combination of both, that address one or more of the following interrelated themes in a distinctions-based context:

  1. Supporting Indigenous Talent and Research Careers
    • support Indigenous undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers
    • involve Indigenous Elders and Indigenous knowledge holders in research
    • remove barriers for participation and success, including nation- and gender-specific barriers
    • foster an inclusive research and research training environment
    • foster a science and engineering culture
  2. Engaging Indigenous Knowledge
    • support research into Indigenous knowledge systems
    • support Indigenous science and wholistic approaches
    • enhance the understanding of reconciliation
    • build knowledge of Indigenous languages
    • take into consideration intersectionality (gender, age, sexuality and other markers of difference)
  3. Strengthening Indigenous Capacity and Leadership in Research
    • support Indigenous- and community-led research
    • support rights-based approaches
    • ensure Indigenous ownership and control of data
  4. Fostering Mutually Respectful Relationships
    • address or acknowledge an understanding of past research practices between researchers and Indigenous communities
    • enforce ethical and responsible conduct of Indigenous research

Additional themes relevant to Métis and First Nations’ leadership in research that may inform the development of strategies, methodologies and approaches to conduct research are welcome.

Applicants and Institutions

ICLR Connection Grant applications can be submitted by institutions or by individual applicants. Each application can be submitted by a team of researchers (consisting of one project director and one or more co-directors, co-applicants and/or collaborators). In the case of partnerships, the project director prepares the application on behalf of the partner organizations of the partnership.

Institutional ICLR Connection Grant applications must be submitted by an Indigenous institution in Canada that holds or is already in the process of applying for institutional eligibility, whether an Indigenous not-for-profit or Indigenous postsecondary institution (college or university), to conduct an event, outreach activity or combination of the two that allows the eligible institution to achieve the strategic objectives relevant to this funding opportunity. The project director for an institutional ICLR must be affiliated with the eligible institution submitting the application. The project director prepares the application on behalf of their institution and is responsible for the overall leadership of the project. The project director and their team (consisting of one project director and one or more co-directors, co-applicants and/or collaborators) must each meet the eligibility criteria specific to their role.

The term “institution” from this point on in this description refers to both eligible Indigenous postsecondary institutions and eligible Indigenous not‑for‑profit organizations.

Individual ICLR Connection Grant applications must be submitted by an individual (project director) affiliated with an eligible Indigenous institution in Canada that holds or is already in the process of applying for institutional eligibility, whether an Indigenous not-for-profit or Indigenous postsecondary institution (college or university) to conduct an event, outreach activity or combination of the two that primarily falls within the project director’s area of expertise and will allow them to make a significant contribution to their field of research. The project director and their team (consisting of one or more co-directors, co-applicants and/or collaborators) must each meet the eligibility criteria specific to their role.

Researchers whose primary affiliation is with a non-Canadian institution (not-for-profit or postsecondary) are not eligible for project director status.

Project directors must be affiliated with an eligible Canadian institution (Indigenous postsecondary institution or Indigenous not-for-profit organization) that holds institutional eligibility before funding can be released. Researchers who maintain an affiliation with a Canadian institution that holds institutional eligibility, but whose primary affiliation is with a non-Canadian postsecondary institution, are not eligible for project director status.

Postdoctoral researchers are eligible to be project directors if they have formally established an affiliation with an eligible institution within three months of the grant start date, and maintain such an affiliation for the duration of the grant period. Before applying, postdoctoral researchers must confirm with their institution, usually through the research grants office, that the institution can administer the funding if awarded.

Students enrolled in a program of study are not eligible to apply. However, a PhD candidate is eligible to apply as a project director if they:

If intending to apply as a project director, federal scientists (on contract) who are primarily affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution must demonstrate that their proposed research or research-related activity is not related to either the mandate of their federal employer or the normal duties for which they receive payment from that employer.

Institutions

Grant funds can be administered only by a Canadian, eligible Indigenous postsecondary institution or Indigenous not-for-profit organization. Institutions proposing to administer a grant awarded under this funding opportunity must hold or obtain institutional eligibility (see the webpage on Indigenous Not-for-Profit Organizations Applying for Institutional Eligibility for additional details, and the list of eligible organizations at SSHRC). Indigenous institutions or not-for-profit organizations who are unsure about their current eligibility or who are interested in obtaining eligibility are strongly encouraged to contact SSHRC’s institutional eligibility team at least 10 business days prior to the application deadline.

To start the grant application, you must have started the institutional eligibility process, so you can select the administering organization in the Affiliations step when creating an application. An institutional representative will need to be identified as the research administrator and will be responsible for forwarding the grant application by the deadline. The creation of a research administrator role for an organization can take up to approximately five business days; however, during that time, applicants can continue to work on key sections of the grant application (e.g., attachments in the Supporting Documents section). See the application instructions for more details.

Indigenous postsecondary institutions, including but not limited to universities, tribal colleges, polytechnics and institutes, are encouraged to participate. If an organization does not meet the criteria for institutional eligibility, the organization may participate on a proposal as a partner organization, or have individuals participate on a project team in the roles of co-director, co-applicant or collaborator, as applicable. See below for more details.

Co-directors and co-applicants

Individuals (including postdoctoral researchers) are eligible to be co-directors or co-applicants if they are formally affiliated with any of the following, regardless of their institution or organization holding institutional eligibility at SSHRC:

Collaborators

Any individual who makes a significant contribution to the project is eligible to be a collaborator. Collaborators do not need to be affiliated with an eligible institution.

Individuals from the private sector or federal government can only participate on a team as collaborators.

Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers

Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers are recognized and respected in terms of their contributions towards knowledge, and may participate as co-directors, co-applicants or collaborators. Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers affiliated with a federal department or private sector organization can only participate as collaborators.

Partner organizations

Canadian or international organizations from the public, private and/or not-for-profit sector may be involved as partner organizations and are expected to support the activities of the partnership. Indigenous academic and non-academic organizations, Indigenous governments, and Indigenous not-for-profit organizations are all welcome to partner.

Although contributions can include cash and/or in-kind contributions, in an effort to alleviate barriers to all communities’ participation, partners may explain alternative contributions in letters of support. This support can include social capital and/or linguistic capital, such as the ability to engage in the community using its ancestral language(s) and a national language of Canada. See more details in the instructions accompanying this funding opportunity.

Multiple applications and holding multiple awards

Applicants (project directors) to this funding opportunity are eligible to apply to SSHRC’s Connection Grants during the same calendar year, but must avoid duplication of funding. See SSHRC’s regulations on multiple applications and holding multiple awards for more information.

Monitoring

Grant holders will be expected to report on the use of grant funds, on funded activities undertaken during the grant period and on outcomes. Successful applicants will be informed of reporting requirements when they receive their Notice of Award.

Application process

Applicants (project directors) must complete the application form in accordance with the accompanying Convergence Portal instructions. Applications must be submitted electronically by an authorized research grants officer, or equivalent, from the applicant’s institution, or by a representative of the not-for-profit organization who has financial signing authority and is not participating in the project.

Eligible postdoctoral researchers need to contact SSHRC to confirm details on how to submit their applications.

As investment via this funding opportunity is contingent upon distribution of funds among Métis and First Nations Peoples to grow research capacity and support training in these communities, applications must indicate to which one of the following three streams they are applying:

Applicants must select their stream in the Summary of Proposal (see instructions).

Stream selection is at the applicant/partnership’s discretion and should indicate the best match to the priorities of the proposal. Program officers cannot advise prospective applicants on stream selection or the funding allocated to each stream. Final grant awards will be based on the recommendation of the merit review committee.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of the start date of the proposed event or outreach activity, as well as by the application deadline, keeping in mind that a grant cannot be awarded retroactively for an event or outreach activity that has taken place prior to the final funding decision. All funded activities must take place within one year of the start date indicated on the Notice of Award.

Applicants needing help or having questions while preparing their applications should communicate with SSHRC well in advance of the application deadline.

Merit review and selection processes

Applications are reviewed, and available funds awarded, based on the recommendations of the multidisciplinary merit review committee. Committee discussions are guided by the principle of minimum essential funding and have the objective of awarding all grants to individuals affiliated with or institutions that are First Nations or Métis not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous not-for-profit organizations serving more than one distinction, or Indigenous postsecondary institutions, as follows:

SSHRC’s Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research are relevant for applicants preparing applications. These guidelines are provided to merit reviewers to assist committee members in interpreting specific evaluation criteria in the context of Indigenous research. The three federal research granting agencies rely on a community of merit reviewers with experience and expertise in Indigenous research to judge the extent to which the guidelines can be applied to a particular research proposal. Concerted efforts will be made for the merit review committee to include Indigenous individuals.

Evaluation criteria and scoring

The following criteria and scoring scheme are used to evaluate the applications:

  1. Challenge—The aim and importance of the endeavour (40%)
    • expected contribution to some of the funding opportunity’s stated aims and expected outcomes;
    • significance of the applicant’s chosen strategic theme, based on issues identified in this funding opportunity;
    • level of engagement of Indigenous communities in the design and conduct of the project activities;
    • potential influence and impact in informing the strategic plan, including identifying new ways of doing research with Indigenous communities and consideration of reciprocity within the various stages of the grant; and
    • quality and significance of the research and/or community-based knowledge being mobilized.
  2. Feasibility—The plan to achieve excellence (30%)
    • ability to meet some of the aims and expected outcomes of the funding opportunity;
    • appropriateness of the approach and of the work plan, including timelines for the design and conduct of the event or outreach activity;
    • leadership of Indigenous communities in the design and conduct of the project activities; and
    • appropriateness of the requested budget and justification of proposed costs.
  3. Capability—The expertise to succeed (30%)
    • qualifications of the applicant/team to carry out the proposed project (significance of relevant past experience and/or creative outputs of the applicant and any co-applicants/collaborators relative to their roles in the event or activity);
    • linkages to Elders and knowledge holders in the participating communities; and
    • evidence of other knowledge mobilization activities (e.g., films, performances, commissioned reports, knowledge syntheses, experience in collaboration / other interactions with stakeholders, and contributions to community-led events), especially with Indigenous communities, and evidence of impacts on strengthening Indigenous research capacity.

Should an application team be led by a non-Indigenous project director, project teams are invited to consider how they may reflect the objectives of this funding opportunity to increase participation of Métis and/or First Nations individuals in research throughout their proposal and/or team composition by indicating considerations of self-determination and leadership by First Nations and/or Métis co-directors/co-applicants, as applicable.

Scoring table

Merit review committee members assign a score for each of the three criteria (challenge, feasibility, capability), based on the following scoring table. The appropriate weighting is then applied to arrive at a final score. Applications must receive a score of 3.0 or higher for each of the three criteria in order to be recommended for funding.

Score Descriptor
5-6 Very good to excellent
4-4.9 Good to very good
3-3.9 Satisfactory to good
Below 3 Unsatisfactory

Data management plan

This funding opportunity strongly encourages a data management plan (DMP). A DMP describes how proposals will manage the data associated with a research project, both during the project and after its completion.

The DMP section will not be part of the application’s scoring. However, proposals may continue to discuss key elements and principles of data management related to their proposed project in other relevant sections of the application that are scored. Researchers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the research data management strategies and DMP resources available at their institutions/organizations.

The content, format and length of a DMP can vary depending on the specific nature of a project. The DMP should be considered a living document to be amended and added to over the life of the project. For more information on research data management and DMPs, see SSHRC’s Guide to preparing a data management plan, which includes information on the First Nations principles of ownership, control, access and possession (OCAP®); as well as the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance; the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy; and the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy—Frequently Asked Questions.

Communication of results

Competition results will be made available to applicants (via the Extranet for Applicants) and institutions (via the Grants and Scholarships Administration Portal or Extranet, depending on the type of institution). The agencies will publicly announce the results of the competition after the results have been communicated to successful applicants. All applicants will be provided a Notice of Decision and a summary of the merit review committee’s evaluation of their proposal.

Regulations, policies and related information

The federal research granting agencies reserve the right to determine the eligibility of applications, based on the information included. The agencies also reserve the right to interpret the regulations and policies governing their funding opportunities.

Grant holders must comply with the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications (see the Open Access overview for more information) and the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy.

All applicants and grant holders must also comply with the Regulations Governing Grant Applications and follow the general principles governing appropriate use of funds set out in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, unless otherwise specified below or in the accompanying instructions.

Specific rules for the use of grant funds

Guidelines and related support material

Applicants should consult the following, as needed, while preparing their application:

Contact information

For more information, contact:

Email: partnerships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
Toll-free: 1-855-275-2861

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