In alignment with policies governing research involving Indigenous groups, and recognizing the responsibility of researchers to engage with Indigenous and Northern peoples in a respectful, ethical, and genuinely collaborative manner, the Indigenous and Northern Relationship Development Fund provides support for building and strengthening these essential relationships.

The purpose of this fund is to help researchers establish new relationships or strengthen existing ones. These relationships are important for developing collaborative, co-created research projects based on mutual respect. They acknowledge the deep understanding and knowledge that Indigenous and Northern people bring to such projects, ensuring that the academic research and engagement projects meet the needs of the people and the regions where such research takes place.

Project applications for this fund must be focused on relationship building. The approach that the process takes is entirely up to the researchers and their potential Indigenous and community partners.

Please review the Applicant Fund Guide for more information.

Apply here. *Note: applications will only appear in Memorial University’s Application Portal once the call for submissions is open.

Note: Funding availability for this call is subject to approval from Global Affairs Canada. Final award decisions will only be confirmed once funding has been approved. Funding cannot be applied retroactively or used for previously completed activities.

Applications must be completed and submitted through Memorial University’s application portal. The 2026 call will be launched in December 2025 and will be closed on April 24, 2026 at 11:59PM CEST.

Memorial University is also managing and administering the Indigenous and Northern Collaborative Research and Education Engagement Fund.

If you have any questions about the Indigenous and Northern Relationship Development Fund, please contact Sheila Downer, VP Northern Community Engagement, or Lisa Goulet, Membership Engagement Coordinator.

Funding for this project call is managed and administered by Memorial University on behalf of UArctic in accordance with the terms of a Global Arctic Leadership agreement with Global Affairs, Canada.

Read more about the Global Arctic Leadership Initiative.