The Government of Canada has announced $10 million in investments to support community-led research in Canada’s North through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s new Northern Fund. The announcement was made on National Indigenous Peoples Day and marks the first awards under the programme.
The Northern Fund was developed in consultation with Northern research institutions to support research infrastructure that responds to local priorities. The programme funds laboratories, equipment and digital tools that enable research for the North by the North.
Two projects each received $5 million in funding. The Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre in Iqaluit, Nunavut, will use the investment to build a new state-of-the-art facility with collaborative spaces for research and community outreach.
The funding will also support the retrofitting of an adjacent building to create a dedicated patient-oriented research unit. Digital upgrades to networks, servers and security systems will help protect sensitive research and patient data.
For two decades, the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre has provided a culturally sensitive space to address Nunavut’s health research priorities. Its work combines Inuit and Western approaches to explore issues such as Elder care, Inuit education models, trauma-informed public health and community well-being.
The second project supports SIKU: The Indigenous Knowledge App, an online and mobile platform created by Northerners and managed by the Arctic Eider Society in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut. The app will use CFI funding for software, digital storage and technical expertise to manage large datasets.
SIKU supports more than 100 community-led projects focused on research, environmental monitoring and stewardship. With more than 40,000 users, the platform helps Northern communities document Indigenous Knowledge, track environmental change and support decision-making.
The app brings together Indigenous Knowledge and scientific approaches across research areas such as sea ice, climate studies, wildlife ecology and mapping. Its work aligns with the National Inuit Strategy on Research and supports sovereign data and digital infrastructure in Canada.
The CFI Northern Fund highlights the importance of investing in research infrastructure that reflects Northern priorities, knowledge systems and leadership. By supporting health research and environmental stewardship, the fund aims to strengthen regional economies, advance community-led innovation and build long-term research capacity in Canada’s North.
