Indigenous Peoples

Northwestern Canada is experiencing double the rate of climate warming compared to the global average, impacting water resources and regional climate. To track these changes, a network of ten eddy covariance (EC) towers—which allow for the tracking of greenhouse gases—were installed across the Northwest Territories. However, the lack of local expertise jeopardizes their upkeep and subsequently the data they track.

The FEED the North project, spearheaded by the Ocean Wise Conservation Association, targeted economic and environmental challenges in Nunavut, which were intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and by climate change. This initiative aimed to merge traditional Inuit knowledge with Western science, enhancing sustainability in local fisheries and bridging Indigenous and Western environmental conservation methods.

The Re-skilling Displaced Retail Workers project sought to support the design of a re-skilling program for displaced Ontario retail workers, with a focus on racialized or Indigenous youth.

Indigenous Works, a national Indigenous not-for-profit organization, developed the Luminary Research and Innovation Project to enhance innovation in Indigenous business environments, with the knowledge that more Indigenous-led research is needed to catalyze innovation and community well-being. 

Aurora College conducted a feasibility study to assess the viability of establishing an Indigenous Business Centre of Excellence (IBCE).

This project implemented land-based camps that sought to marry Indigenous knowledge and STEM education.

Business owners from equity-deserving groups were among the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of them were forced to pivot their businesses online and needed to quickly develop or sharpen their digital marketing capabilities.  

There is a lack of representation of BIPOC, women and 2SLGBTQ+ peoples in the games development industry. Marginalized communities need specific skills to succeed in this burgeoning sector of the economy.