Grant: Training Grant: Indigenous Mentorship Network Program - Alberta

The AIM-HI Network represents a commitment on the part of established Indigenous and non-Indigenous health researchers at distinct stages of their careers, and community partners, to strengthen and provide new and expanded opportunities for (FNMI) mentees to pursue and succeed in health research careers. We have developed an intergenerational, multilayered cascading mentorship program for mentees at all levels-undergraduate through to new investigator stage-and in all health-focused research disciplines, including the health, social and laboratory sciences. The program encourages networking and interdisciplinary gatherings among peers affiliated with six Alberta universities, the oldest tribal college in Canada, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Alberta partner organizations, and between Indigenous Mentorship Network Program nodes. By establishing enduring infrastructure, it promotes sustainability in training by building capacity in Alberta for FNMI health research mentees, and in partnership with Indigenous communities of support, it dynamically reaches future mentees in urban and remote sectors throughout the province and in the Canadian North. We will catalyze a generation of FNMI health researchers, who through participation in the AIM-HI Network, will strengthen their personal resources and resilience to succeed academically and meaningfully apply research knowledge for the improved health of FNMI communities. Finally, we will generate evidence on best practices for Indigenous mentorship, demonstrate the impact of the network, and advocate for systemic change to enable FNMI promotion and success in academia and in health research more broadly.