{"id":96067,"date":"2024-09-30T15:45:38","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T19:45:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=96067"},"modified":"2024-10-08T10:50:26","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T14:50:26","slug":"research-into-indigenous-discrimination-among-student-postdoc-projects-awarded-2m","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2024\/09\/research-into-indigenous-discrimination-among-student-postdoc-projects-awarded-2m\/","title":{"rendered":"Research into Indigenous discrimination among student, postdoc projects awarded $2M"},"content":{"rendered":"

The federal government has awarded more than $2 million in Canadian Graduate Scholarships (CGS) and Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships to 32 Brock graduate students and postdoctoral scholars for their innovative and impactful research.<\/p>\n

The Tri-Agency federal funding programs<\/a> \u2014 jointly administered by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) \u2014 support and invest in world-class Canadian research.<\/p>\n

As part of the tri-agency announcement, Brock University researchers received an additional $634,753 in SSHRC Insight Grants and an Insight Development Grant.<\/a><\/p>\n

Among Brock\u2019s 32 CGS recipients is Ryanne Logan (BSc ’23), an Applied Health Sciences master\u2019s student who is shaping research around the complexity of strength and the discrimination faced by self-identifying Indigenous women.<\/p>\n

She says the Lenape words \u201ctakwihl\u00e9ewak\u201d and \u201cw\u01d4lal\u00f3hkeew,\u201d which mean \u201ccome together\u201d and \u201cdo good work,\u201d are at the centre of her research.<\/p>\n

Logan, who is Lenape and from Delaware Nation near Chatham-Kent, began working on decolonization research and initiatives<\/a> while completing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at Brock.<\/p>\n

She credits the nurturing environment at Brock and her community with supporting her academic growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have had amazing peers and mentors who have guided me to where I am today,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

This strong support network has been crucial as she tackles the challenging themes of her research, rooted in her own experiences and those of her community.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Indigenous women who are perceived to be strong are told to step up and lead, they often find themselves criticized and face discrimination for doing so,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m trying to understand the paradoxical nature of strength, leadership and discrimination among Indigenous women.\u201d<\/p>\n

Logan defines success and leadership in the context of Indigenous women\u2019s experiences and cultivates an inclusive perspective for her participants to express their true selves without fear of discrimination.<\/p>\n

“Success and leadership within Indigenous contexts differ greatly from conventional Western notions,” she says. “It\u2019s about being proud of who you are, having a good mind, embracing your culture and making meaningful contributions to your community \u2013 rather than seeking more money, power or attempting to outdo others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Logan\u2019s study adopts a strengths-based approach, emphasizing the voices and experiences of self-identifying Indigenous women rather than focusing solely on their struggles. She aims to illuminate their narratives and offer a platform for cultural connection.<\/p>\n

Her commitment to relevant research practices is evident in her collaboration with the Brock\u2019s Hadiya\u2019dag\u00e9nhahs First Nations, M\u00e9tis and Inuit Student Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs an Indigenous person, I understand how research has been conducted in the past, and I want to ensure I\u2019m providing aligning cultural support with the support of the Hadiya\u2019dag\u00e9nhahs<\/a> Centre,\u201d she says. \u201cI aim to make it a comfortable space with relevant resources to help participants return to a good mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Logan says she hopes her findings will inform policy and educational spaces, contributing to a broader understanding of the discrimination Indigenous women and people face in Canada.<\/p>\n

But her aspirations extend beyond academic boundaries.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s about giving back to the community as an Indigenous scholar and giving the Indigenous voice a rightful place where it belongs in discussions about discrimination and resilience,” she says.<\/p>\n

She plans to share her research widely, from conferences to community-driven knowledge mobilization efforts, ensuring her findings are accessible to diverse audiences with the aim of fostering a deep-rooted understanding and respect for Indigenous communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re on the brink of change, and I will continue to push reconciliation and decolonization in Canada,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Fall <\/strong>2023 Postdoctoral Fellowship recipients<\/strong><\/p>\n

NSERC:<\/p>\n