The Institute for Circumpolar Health Research’s NT NEIHR Annual Report Highlights Community-Driven Research and Student Opportunity in the Northwest Territories

The Institute for Circumpolar Health Research is an independent organization registered under the Northwest Territories Societies Act and based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The Institute for Circumpolar Health Research is dedicated to advancing health research, education, and knowledge sharing across circumpolar regions, with a vision of building on the strengths and knowledge of all cultures to achieve better health outcomes. The Institute for Circumpolar Health Research is host to The Northwest Territories Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NT NEIHR) Program, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This program is a national collective of Indigenous-led networks dedicated to capacity development, research, and knowledge translation focused on First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. These independent networks create supportive research environments for Indigenous health research that is community-driven and grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems across Canada.

NT NEIHR has released its 2024–25 Summary Report, offering a powerful snapshot of how community-driven research funding and network-based supports are strengthening health research capacity across the Northwest Territories. The report serves as a strong example of the impact made possible through the Community Project Fund and the broader Northwest Territories Network, which together support locally relevant research, training, and knowledge sharing.

At the heart of the report are the projects funded through the Community Project Fund, which prioritize research questions identified by communities themselves. The NT NEIHR Community Project Fund supports Indigenous communities, organizations, and researchers to develop health and wellness research projects grounded in community priorities. Grounded in Indigenous leadership and intergenerational collaboration, these initiatives highlight the central role of culture, food, storytelling, and traditional skills in community health and resilience.

Nihkhah: Indigenous Culinary and Cultural Engagement Series brought youth and Elders together in N’dilo, Dettah, and Whatì throughout fall 2025 to celebrate Indigenous foodways as pathways to culture, wellness, and connection. Led by Chef Stephanie Baryluk and co-founded by Sid Mehta, the series offered hands-on culinary training, cultural roundtables, and storytelling sessions focused on traditional teachings and food entrepreneurship. Nihkhah—meaning “gathering” or “together” in Teetl’it Gwich’in—also began compiling stories and recipes into a toolkit to support future learning and knowledge sharing.

Community Reflection from Dettah, NT:
“What an amazing experience! Cooking is always so fun, especially under the guidance of Chef Steph. She is calm, collected, and her passion shines through. Thank you, YKFDN Dechita Naowo and the APTN film crew. Mahsi cho.” 
— Melissa Sangris 

The Voice of Denendeh project, led by Gerald Antoine, is laying the groundwork for a new radio and video podcast series dedicated to preserving and sharing Dene stories, teachings, and voices. Building on earlier work with Dene in the City on CKLB Radio, the project is being developed as a living archive that brings Elders, youth, and community members together through storytelling, conversation, and music.

Gwiizrii Gijiint’aih (Do Your Best): Beading, Quilling and Wellness Gathering, led by Gwich’in Knowledge Holder Denise McDonald, continues to provide a powerful space for intergenerational learning through traditional arts. Held annually in Inuvik, the gathering connects youth, Elders, and master artisans through beading, sewing, porcupine quillwork, medicine preparation, and storytelling. Since 2024, participants have created personal and collective art pieces reflecting journeys of cultural reclamation, resilience, and pride.

NT Traditional Sewers Museum Visits supported six sewers and artists from the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu regions to travel south to study ancestral clothing and artifacts held in national museums. Inspired by the Gwiizrii Gijiint’aih gathering, the visit offered an emotional and meaningful opportunity to learn directly from ancestral designs, stitches, and quillwork, reinforcing identity, intergenerational knowledge, and conversations around repatriation and cultural continuity.

The Tetlit Gwich’in Council Fish Camp, an annual initiative running since 2021 in Fort McPherson, continues to strengthen food security, cultural revitalization, and land-based healing through traditional fishing and food preparation. With NT NEIHR travel support, the Fish Camp team participated in the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Conference in Dawson City, gaining new tools and perspectives to enhance the program and bring strengthened learnings back to the community.

Finally, Fur & Frostbite: Keeping Warm on the Land, led by Denesųłiné/French Canadian entrepreneur Brenda Dragon of Aurora Heat, is advancing a community-based research initiative that integrates Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to prevent cold injuries. Supported through Development funding, the project will convene Indigenous knowledge holders, youth, clinicians, and scholars to co-create culturally grounded and scientifically informed solutions. Building on recent research demonstrating the effectiveness of Indigenous-made garments, the initiative highlights the deep cultural, social, and health benefits of traditional clothing in Northern environments.

Together, these projects demonstrate the strength of Indigenous-led research and cultural initiatives in fostering wellness, resilience, and knowledge continuity across Northern communities.

The summary report also highlights the important role of the NT NEIHR in creating opportunities for students and emerging researchers. Through mentorship, training, and hands-on research experiences, the network supports students at different stages of their academic and professional journeys. Students have been involved in community-based research activities, supported to develop research skills, and connected with mentors and organizations across the territory, which are experiences that help build local research capacity and encourage Northern students to pursue health research pathways.

The NT NEIHR 2024-45 Summary Report demonstrates how targeted funding and network-based support can contribute to long-term capacity-building in the Northwest Territories. It shows that investing in community priorities, student development, and sustained partnerships leads to research that is responsive, inclusive, and grounded in Northern realities. Through showcasing the outcomes of the Community Project Fund and the NT NEIHR, the report offers a compelling example of how community-driven research models can support healthier, more resilient Northern communities.