Our Perspective: A Journey Toward Ethical and Sovereign Research
NCFST's story in the research space has been one of transformation. For many years, our organization was positioned at the margins of academic research, often treated as an extension of the academy rather than a sovereign Indigenous partner. Researchers would come to us seeking help with participant recruitment or community access, often without regard for our protocols, priorities, or the principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP®). Reciprocity was absent and we were left with little more than extractive experiences that benefited universities but not our communities. We carried the weight of seeing research done to us rather than with us.
But that is not where our story ends. Over time, we began to shift-not only in how we viewed research, but in how we demanded to be seen within it. We shifted from being passive facilitators of outside agendas to active stewards of community knowledge and wellbeing. We began holding researchers accountable, requiring transparency and reciprocity, and expecting agreements that honour the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples. NCFST is no longer a "doorway" into Indigenous communities for mainstream institutions-we are leaders defining what ethical and community-driven research looks like with non-profit organizations.
Examples of Our Growth in Action
- NCFST no longer approves research that simply seeks to extract Indigenous data, we ensure all research is co-developed, requiring adaptability from our researcher partners.
- Knowledge mobilization is a key facet of our research partnerships; any research about community must be returned to community through presentations, reports, and tools that can be used to improve services and outcomes.
- We have developed our own Research Partnership Agreement that aligns with the First Nations Information Governance Centre’s recommendations.
- We have co-designed research frameworks where community voices shaped the questions, the methods, and the outcomes, flipping the old model of extraction into one of collaboration through Participatory Action Research.
Our journey has been about reclaiming research and each project we complete adds to our confidence and clarity: research is no longer a tool for outsiders to “study” us, but a tool we employ to advocate, to heal, and to build futures for the community we serve.
Our Vision: Where We Are Going
Looking ahead, our vision is to become a recognized leader in decolonizing academic research within the Indigenous child and family wellbeing sector. We want to demonstrate to other Indigenous-led organizations that it is possible to create and enforce ethical research partnerships that respect Indigenous sovereignty.
- In 5 years, we see ourselves with a portfolio of partnerships where reciprocity is not optional but expected—where every research project directly benefits community wellbeing. We will be a trusted source of knowledge and guidance for other Indigenous organizations navigating research relationships.
- In 10 years, we aim to have established a new standard: one where Indigenous-led organizations set the terms of research, where OCAP® is the baseline, and where communities are not just "participants" but co-creators of knowledge. Our approach will serve as a model across sectors, demonstrating how research can be a force for sovereignty, healing, and innovation.
Research with Us
NCFST supports culture-based, evidence-based research to gain insights and improve service and program outcomes for the communities we serve. NCFST's goal is to create partnerships with researchers who value the integration of both Western and Indigenous ways of knowing, known as "Two-Eyed Seeing" as coined by Albert Marshall, a respected Mi'kmaq Elder. As Marshall emphasizes, two-eyed seeing recognizes the strength of using both competencies together as they are gifts that can help us leave the world a better place than how we found it (Bartlett, Marshall, & Marshall, 2012).
The Four Rs of Indigenous Research (1991), as developed by Verna J. Kirkness and Ray Barnhardt are also of great importance when it comes to our partnerships. When vetting potential partnerships, we want to ensure it addresses all four aspects as outlined below:
NCFST aims to spotlight evidence-based research that seeks to eliminate barriers and advance service delivery for the urban Indigenous community. We do this by prioritizing research led by Indigenous researchers, endorsed by a recognized research institution through approval from their Research Ethics Board, and upholds OCAP® and Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles.
The Research Approval Process
NCFST vets all research proposals with our Research Coordinator. As a community-facing role, the Research Coordinator will liaise between researchers, project stakeholders, board members and the community to bring forth NCFST's strategic goals through our research partnerships.
Any research carried out at NCFST will be a consensual agreement between the researcher and community. Research projects will align with the NCFST mission statement of creating a service model that is culture-based and respects the values of Indigenous peoples, the extended family, and the right to self-determination.
If you are interested in partnering with us on a research project, please submit your research proposal to [email protected]. All research proposals submitted to the Research Coordinator will follow the below approval process:
Proposal submitted to [email protected]
- Proposals MUST:
- Be Indigenous-led or have clear Indigenous collaboration.
- Be oriented toward service improvement and community benefit.
- Reflect Indigenous methodologies and ethical standards.
- Offer relational, trauma-informed engagement with participants.
- Ensure participants have access to aftercare, if needed.
- Reflect TCPS 2 (2022) and Institutional Research Ethics Board (REB) requirements
Vetting Process
- Approved REB
- Benefit to community
- Rooted in Indigenous methodologies and respects OCAP® principles
- Meets eligibility requirements
- If a proposal isn't approved but could align with NCFST mission, it may be sent back for revisions and reviewed later
Research Agreement
- Signed Research Partnership and/or Data Sharing Agreement
- All completed projects must be finalized with report to community
The Vetting Process: Ensuring Accountability with Community
All research proposals will be vetted by various stakeholders within NCFST. While not all projects will require this many levels of vetting, we aim to ensure we have consulted as many stakeholders as possible when assessing potential partnerships.
Active Research Partnerships
Strategies that Promote Wellness and Engagement in Community-Based Healing Programs
Anik Obomsawin, MSc, MA | PhD Candidate, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)
Anik is of mixed Abenaki and European-settler ancestry who aims to understand factors that promote engagement in culturally grounded, community-based healing programs and how these programs impact the well-being of urban Indigenous people. These objectives will be addressed through interviews with NCFST leadership and sharing circles with community members and frontline workers. We hope this research will have implications for the support, development, and delivery of cultural group programming across urban Indigenous communities in Toronto.
Telling Creek Stories: Community Engagement and Indigenous Place-Keeping in the Highland Creek Watershed, Scarborough
Nicole Latulippe, PhD | University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)
Nicole is a guest and treaty person working on questions of appropriate and respectful relations with the land, waters, and peoples of place. The goal of this research is to better understand the values, narratives, and practices of Indigenous and local communities involved in the caretaking of the Highland Creek watershed. This will contribute to broader conversations and support for a growing network that centres Indigenous placekeeping and prioritizes relationships in the care of place.
Assessment of the Ophthalmic Needs of Indigenous Children and Youth in Toronto
Helen Dimaras, PhD | University of Toronto (U of T)
Helen is Director of Global Eye Health Research in the Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences at The Hospital for Sick Children, and Associate Professor at U of T. This research sought to understand the vision and eye care needs of Indigenous children living in Toronto, as well as any barriers in accessing vision care by Implementing a community-based vision screening program at NCFST. The findings of this study will help inform the development of a culturally safe vision care model that can be integrated into existing services offered throughout the community.
The Acceptability, Feasibility and Fidelity of Implementing a High-Impact, Growth Mindset and Trauma-Informed Tutoring Model to Improve Educational and Well-Being Outcomes among Indigenous, Crown Ward and Child Welfare-Involved Youth
Sunny Verma | TutorBright; Ashley Quinn, PhD | University of Toronto
The University of Toronto, TutorBright, and NCFST are partnering on a study led by Dr. Ashley Quinn that explores how tutoring can support children in care. The project will examine both academic outcomes and social-emotional learning, focusing on how relationship-based tutoring fosters resilience, confidence, and academic improvement. The objective of this study is to demonstrate how high-quality relationship based tutoring can significantly improve both the academic achievement and overall life outcomes of children in care.
