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| Centre for Indigenous History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Centre for Indigenous History |
| Established | 2010 |
| Type | Research institute |
| Location | Ottawa, Canada |
Centre for Indigenous History The Centre for Indigenous History is a research institute dedicated to the study and preservation of Indigenous histories, cultures, and rights. It operates at the intersection of archival stewardship, oral history, and collaborative scholarship involving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. The Centre engages with museums, universities, and legal institutions to support repatriation, treaty research, and community-led historiography.
The Centre traces its origins to collaborations among the Royal Ontario Museum, Canadian Museum of History, Library and Archives Canada, University of Ottawa, and Carleton University after consultative meetings following the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the publication of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada reports. Early partnerships involved scholars from Harvard University, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, McGill University, and community elders from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Métis National Council. Funding and impetus emerged in response to legal developments such as the Indian Act (1876), decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada, and international frameworks including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Centre has hosted conferences attended by representatives from the Smithsonian Institution, British Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, and scholars associated with the American Philosophical Society.
The Centre's mission aligns with directives articulated by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to support community sovereignty, archival repatriation, and indigenous-led research. Objectives include documenting oral histories in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities; advising institutions such as the Canadian Museums Association, Association of Canadian Archivists, and International Council of Museums on ethical stewardship; and contributing expertise to legal processes involving the Supreme Court of Canada, Federal Court of Canada, and treaty negotiations stemming from historic accords like the Treaty of Ghent and regional agreements such as the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
Research programs encompass Indigenous methodologies promoted by academics from University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, Queen's University, York University, and visiting scholars from Oxford University, Cambridge University, and Australian National University. The Centre runs projects on linguistic revival with partners such as the First Nations Languages Secretariat, documentation initiatives involving the Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute, and legal-historical research tied to cases like R v Sparrow and Delgamuukw v British Columbia. Programs include fellowship tracks in collaboration with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, postgraduate training with the Tri-Agency framework, and internships linked to the National Film Board of Canada and the Métis National Council archives.
The Centre houses archival collections developed through transfers from the Hudson's Bay Company Archives, donations from families connected to the Red River Rebellion, and community deposits from the Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 territories. Holdings include oral history recordings featuring elders associated with Cree, Ojibwe, Anishinaabe, Dene, Inuktitut, and Michif speakers, as well as material culture records traced to collectors like Frances Densmore and Edward S. Curtis. The Centre collaborates on digitization with the Canada Science and Technology Museum, metadata standards from the International Council on Archives, and repatriation protocols informed by precedents set at the Field Museum, Canadian Museum of History, and Te Papa Tongarewa.
Education initiatives partner with school boards such as the Toronto District School Board and postsecondary programs at University of Manitoba, University of Saskatchewan, and Dalhousie University to integrate Indigenous histories into curricula. Public outreach includes exhibitions co-curated with the Native American Rights Fund, lecture series featuring speakers from the Assembly of First Nations and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and workshops for archivists organized in cooperation with the Association of Canadian Archivists and the Canadian Museums Association. The Centre produces educational materials aligned with recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and contributes to media projects with the National Film Board of Canada and broadcasters such as the CBC.
The Centre maintains formal agreements with Indigenous governing bodies including the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and regional entities like the Anishinabek Nation and Māori Council for comparative Indigenous research. International collaborations extend to institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, British Museum, National Museum of Australia, and universities including University of Auckland and Université Laval. It works with legal organizations like the Native Women's Association of Canada and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre on treaty research and with cultural organizations including the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.
Governance is provided by a board comprised of representatives from Indigenous communities, academics from McMaster University, Concordia University, and policy experts formerly associated with the Department of Canadian Heritage and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Funding streams include grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, project support from the Canada Council for the Arts, contributions from foundations such as the Laidlaw Foundation and McConnell Foundation, and endowed chairs sponsored by universities and philanthropic partners like the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The Centre adheres to ethical guidelines informed by the Tri-Council Policy Statement and community protocols articulated by partner nations.
Category:Indigenous studies