University of Regina Vice President of Research David Malloy. Photo courtesy University of Regina.
The University of Regina wants to take Indigenous research to the next level.
The university’s vice president of research says its all about connecting to the general public, the Indigenous community, and explaining why it is important and relevant.
David Malloy says the university is already recognized for the high quality of its Indigenous research. It is now pushing to be named as a Canadian research chair, giving it the formal distinction of being the best in Canada.
He says the research projects are about reclaiming history and telling the world what it is and what it means. For the university, Malloy says it means being able to make its research relevant on many different levels.
“We have to make ourselves relevant,” he says. “The public has to understand why what we do is important and if we cant communicate that connection we will become irrelevant.”
There are seven First Nation researchers at the U of R. Their work goes well beyond the classroom and publishing papers.
Malloy says they must also demonstrate how their work benefits First Nations, something researchers in other areas don’t have to do.
“But if you are an Indigenous researcher you must, you must, take your research and go back to the community and demonstrate what you have done helps them,” he says.
A public display of the researchers’ work is taking place at the university today. Everything from books to biology and old photographs dating back to the 1800s is on display. It looks at the world through Indigenous eyes and explains the context so it makes sense to both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community.
This is the second year for the event.