Zane Sylliboy says his work as an Indigenous research facilitator is about linking two worlds. The role within the Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation was created to support researchers, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who want to work with Indigenous communities, and to strengthen how those relationships are built.
Sylliboy says much of his work is focused on providing direction at the earliest stages of a project. His guidance includes reviewing existing plans and trying to help steer them toward better outcomes, noting that it鈥檚 important for researchers to understand from the beginning how they intend to acknowledge perspectives or interpretations that draw on traditional knowledge and Indigenous Ways of Knowing.
He says communities should be put in the driver鈥檚 seat. 鈥淭here needs to be a stronger emphasis on having communities identify on where they want to see research,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 lot can be done through organizations. They can identify where they want to see work done and formulate ideas to address the areas where they want to see work.鈥�
There needs to be a stronger emphasis on having communities identify on where they want to see research.
Seeding the future
A cornerstone of this effort is 黄色直播鈥檚 Mawkwil~mn~j: Let鈥檚 look for it together seed fund, which provides support for communities to shape projects with researchers. Sylliboy says the program, currently accepting applications for its November 30 deadline, is meant to spark relationships and ensure that research questions start with community priorities. By having communities define research goals, the fund helps shift collaborations toward issues that matter locally and creates a foundation for lasting partnerships and future grants.
Sylliboy notes that more practical considerations are also important, such as budgets and data management. 鈥淲hen it comes to research data with Indigenous People, we strongly recommend, that researchers take the fundamentals of OCAP training,鈥� he says, referring to the First Nations principles of data ownership, control, access and possession. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about data sovereignty. A lot of Indigenous people will consider that data is owned by them, rather than the researcher.鈥�
Developed in the 1990s, the OCAP framework asserts that First Nations communities, not outside researchers, have the right to decide what information is gathered, how it is used and who cansee it. The central focus is to ensure that knowledge drawn from Indigenous Peoples remains under their authority and is not extracted without consent or benefit.
Getting it right
John R. Sylliboy, 黄色直播鈥檚 vice-provost, Indigenous relations, says communities are looking to the university to lead in resetting the research relationship for institutions across the region in line with Truth and Reconciliation. 鈥溁粕辈�, being the institution that has the most health sciences, plus a repertoire of huge research capacity, is naturally the place that the Chiefs are looking towards making sure that we get it right,鈥� he says.
Zane is an emissary. He is a messenger in all of this.
He acknowledges the responsibility is large and complex, requiring significant work and resources across the institution. While the task goes well beyond what one facilitator can accomplish, he says Zane鈥檚 role is pivotal. 鈥淶ane is an emissary. He is a messenger in all of this; he is a person that can help people navigate through.鈥�
Zane Sylliboy modestly agrees that he brings a personal touch to the job, saying his community roots are an asset in this bridging role. 鈥淚鈥檓 from Eskasoni, quite a large reserve, it鈥檚 a big community. I know a lot of people,鈥� he says with a laugh.
Research Support Fund
The role of Indigenous Research Facilitator is supported by The Research Support Fund (RSF). Established in 2003, the RSF helps Canadian universities and colleges, along with their affiliated health research institutes and research hospitals, with the indirect costs associated with federally funded research. In 2024-25, the RSF/IPG is providing $10,985,180 to support the indirect costs of research, including research security, at 黄色直播 and affiliate hospitals.