Grant and Funding Programs Offered by NT NEIHR (NEIHR)

The Northwest Territories Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (NT NEIHR) is part of a pan‑Canadian initiative to strengthen Indigenous‑led health research. Based in the Northwest Territories, the network brings together Elders, Knowledge Holders, communities, students, and academic partners to support research grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems, land‑based practices, language, and culture.

NT NEIHR combines capacity building with direct financial support. The network administers a Community Project Fund, which provides up to $20,000 per project to support community‑driven initiatives in areas such as food security, climate change, maternal and child health, arts‑based wellness, and language and knowledge preservation. A formal application process, review rubric, and decision timelines are published, and calls for proposals are launched on a recurring basis.

In parallel, NT NEIHR offers graduate scholarships for Indigenous and northern students at the master’s and doctoral levels. The scholarships support research projects that address Indigenous health and wellness, governance, cultural revitalization, and related fields. The website profiles multiple Master’s and PhD scholarship recipients from 2023 onward, illustrating the range of disciplines and institutions supported.

The network focuses on Indigenous communities across the Northwest Territories and, for some student supports, the Yukon. Funding and mentorship are directed to Elders and community leaders, youth, graduate and summer students, and early‑career researchers. NT NEIHR highlights Elder‑led projects such as Tłı̨chǫ food security and traditional knowledge, climate change and wildfire response, Inuit maternal child health, art‑based wellness gatherings, and storytelling, podcast, and archiving initiatives.

Beyond grants and scholarships, NT NEIHR organizes Elder‑student mentorship environments, community‑based research training, and toolkits to strengthen local research capacity. The network also helps northern graduate students attend national gatherings such as the National Gathering of Graduate Students, reinforcing connections with the broader Canadian NEIHR network.

Across all activities, NT NEIHR emphasizes community priorities, Indigenous methodologies, and long‑term relationship building. Funding decisions and mentorship are intended to help communities lead research that reflects their own values and goals, influence health policies and programs, and support healing, language revitalization, and cultural continuity throughout the Northwest Territories.