OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Thanks to the richness and the ancestral wisdom of its various cultures, the Indigenous community provides innovative solutions when it comes to answering contemporary issues according to the guest speakers at the 2021 annual public meeting of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

The virtual annual meeting, which helped mark the CFI’s 25th anniversary and also highlighted the CFI’s achievements in 2020-21, included a discussion on the role of Traditional Knowledge as a driver of research. Moderated by CFI President and CEO, Roseann O’Reilly Runte, the session included:

• The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Canada’s 21st Prime Minister and Founder of the Martin Family initiative in conversation with
• Chantelle Richmond, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health and Environment, Associate Professor of Geography and Environment at Western University, and
• Tania Willard, Secwépemc Nation, artist and curator, Assistant Professor in Visual Arts at University of British Columbia Okanagan.

The discussion, which explored what societies and individuals can do to help Canada thrive into the future, began with Martin asking the two Indigenous researchers how to motivate the next generation of scholars, researchers and artists to emulate the work they have accomplished.

To read more, to consult the transcript, and to watch the highlights, please click here.