A Faculty of Social Work research funding proposal written entirely in nêhiyawewin, the Cree language, has been approved for funding by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to demonstrate their commitment to supporting Indigenous languages in government-funded opportunities. This is the first proposal submitted exclusively in an Indigenous language to be funded by a federal funding agency.
The research project’s long-term goal is for Indigenous service providers, such as Children’s Services and other agencies, to understand the vital role that ceremony, language, and protocol play in healing. The project’s focus was born from the team’s extensive research and practice experience, which revealed that the languages, protocol, stories, and ceremonies of Indigenous Peoples are integral to the healing process, providing insight into a distinct worldview parallel to the Western perspective.