At the Roots Circle, you can expect to learn and share knowledge through speakers, dialogues, talking circles, group activities, case studies, panel interviews, and other initiatives aimed at reciprocal and sustained learning.
The Roots Circle, also called Roots: An Indigenous Partnered Research Circle, is a space for students, staff, faculty, and Indigenous community members and Elders who are involved, or hoping to be involved in, research in partnership with ICCOs. The Circle supports folks in navigating research more relationally and approaching partnership in a good way, and fosters community-building amongst attendees.
This circle aims to enhance the capacity of the UBC community to build relational partnerships with Indigenous communities, collectives, and organizations (ICCOs), advancing meaningful Indigenous health research and supporting the rights of Indigenous peoples in accordance with UNDRIP, TRC Calls to Action, the Faculty of Medicine Strategic Plan, and the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan.
Roots initially began in 2024 as a pilot through a Faculty of Medicine Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) project called Creating Structures for Meaningful Indigenous Community-UBC Health Partnerships., The pilot, which evolved from a dialogue with Indigenous and allied community-based researchers. Roots was developed in collaboration with these key informants, Indigenous Elders, and the Indigenous Research Support Initiative to address six key needs:
- Facilitate mutual learning and mentorship
- Bring awareness to and honour Indigenous-led research
- Foster connections between students, staff, faculty, and Indigenous community members
- Encourage more appropriate criteria for evaluating Indigenous-led research for promotion and tenure
- Create a decolonized space for thoughtful discussion
- Envision new ways of working together
Roots takes an informed, decolonial approach to knowledge generation, inviting attendees to sit in circle with Elders while following traditional protocols, including the sharing of food, and gift-giving to honour our Elders and speakers. This approach is rooted in ceremony and fostered by the Human Early Learning Partnership’s (HELP’s) Aboriginal Steering Committee, our experienced team of Indigenous staff, our Elders and all of the preliminary work which has come before.