Grant: Training Grant: Indigenous Mentorship Network Program - Manitoba

We are a team of community- and university-based Indigenous and ally scholars from a consortium of three Manitoba-based Indigenous organizations (Nanaandawewigamig First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, the Manitoba Metis Federation, and the Manitoba Inuit Association) and four Manitoba universities. PIKE-Net's strategies are and will continue to be informed by the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, inspired by the Manitoba's universities, colleges and public school boards' commitment to action on reconciliation, and dedicated to ensuring that First Nations, Metis and Inuit mentees have access to all opportunities accessible in partners institutions, in a culturally safe learning environment. We have an established history of providing a world-class mentorship program (2001-current). During this time, we supported 227 student and early-career professionals in Indigenous health research. We propose an approach informed by Willie Ermine's concept of ethical space, by focusing our relational mentorship program in three strategic areas: 1) Culturally-grounded mentorship; 2) Multiple domains of success across all 4 research pillars; and 3) Systemic interventions. We propose: a mentor support program, mentor matching, an Annual Mobile/Virtual Summer Institute, international learning opportunities, monthly webinars, community outreach, and advocacy within the universities to break down systemic barriers. It is through these activities that we will improve recruitment and retention of Indigenous students; increase and improve the quality of training opportunities for those students; increase networking opportunities (including international networks); increase the number of Indigenous students who are awarded outside funding (i.e. provincial or national funding); improve the quality and quantity of knowledge products; and continue to identify and address individual/systemic barriers for Indigenous students.