Indigenous engagement guide
Download your copy of the Ocean Frontier Insitute's Indigenous Engagement Guide

The Ocean Frontier Institute honours and embraces Indigenous perspectives on the ocean, and ocean research, as vital for ocean health and sustainability.

The Ocean Frontier Institute Indigenous Engagement Guide was developed by OFI's Indigenous Engagement Steering Committee and from feedback generously provided by Indigenous groups and the OFI research community. The Guide is intended to be evergreen and will grow and adapt as OFI continues with our Indigenous engagement efforts as further feedback and input is received. This guide is intended for information purposes only and offers perspectives and guidance for working toward meaningful and respectful engagement with Indigenous communities, organizations, and groups. The Guide was developed as a guiding document to better inform the OFI research community regarding Indigenous engagement in Atlantic Canada and should not be considered final or authoritative in nature.

The Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) has developed an Indigenous (Inuit, Métis, and First Nations) Engagement Guide to facilitate efforts toward respectful and meaningful engagement with Indigenous governments, communities, and organizations (Indigenous groups).

  • This initiative recognizes and seeks to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Calls to Action, Education for Reconciliation, calls 62: ii (TRC 2015), The Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Humans, 2nd Edition: Chapter 9 (TCPS 2 2018) and aspires to align with the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP 2008)
  • It also links to OFI’s Strategic Framework 2018-2022, which affirms OFI is committed to engaging stakeholders and Indigenous peoples in ocean management solutions and building support for ocean research and its applications
  • It informs OFI’s researchers to provide considerate recommendations to reflect stakeholder and Indigenous priorities, values, and knowledge
  • This guide provides an important first step in the active incorporation of Indigenous interests and rights into OFI’s ongoing vision for North Atlantic research and environmental stewardship
  • Research Programs funded through OFI will be required to meet the expectations set out in this Guide and as they arise through OFI Indigenous Engagement Initiatives
Dr. Anya Waite
CEO and Scientific Director, Ocean Frontier Institute
Download the guide