Each year on June 21, we gather in recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day, honouring the cultures, histories, languages, and achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Canada. This day is both a celebration, and a reminder, of the work that lies ahead in our shared journey toward truth, reconciliation, and equity.
At Research Manitoba we are committed to prioritizing reconciliation, a key pillar of our 2024–2027 Strategic Plan. As we mark National Indigenous Peoples Day 2025, we reaffirm this commitment to supporting Indigenous-led research, amplifying Indigenous knowledge systems, and building meaningful relationships grounded in respect, reciprocity, and self-determination.
Our funding programs offer support for Indigenous students and early-career researchers. We are proud to fund scholars working in areas such as Indigenous language revitalization, food sovereignty, youth mental health, climate adaptation, and traditional land stewardship. These investments reflect our belief that research excellence must include diversity of worldview, methodology, and lived experience. Indigenous-led scholarship brings ways of knowing that deepen the collective understanding of science, health, and innovation in Manitoba.
Cross-Sector Partnerships for Reconciliation
We know that meaningful progress requires collaborative partnerships. Research Manitoba is actively engaging with Indigenous organizations, post-secondary institutions, and provincial stakeholders to hear and learn how we can further continue to support Indigenous researchers in Manitoba.
Let today be a celebration, and also a reaffirmation, that in Manitoba, Indigenous voices will continue to lead us forward—in research, in healing, and in truth.
National Indigenous Peoples Day in Manitoba is a celebration of identity, a recognition of enduring strength, and a reaffirmation of our shared responsibility to reconciliation. It is also a powerful call to action—to continue dismantling the systemic barriers that have historically excluded Indigenous voices from spaces of influence, research, and innovation.
Research Manitoba is committed to advancing inclusive research, reconciliation, and capacity building. Through initiatives like our studentships, New Investigator Operating Grants, and the Research Connections Grant, we are helping grow a diverse and empowered network of researchers—including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit scholars—working to improve Indigenous health outcomes, knowledge systems, and community well-being.