b'INDSPIRE RESEARCHquestions from an Indigenousopportunities. Networking withrewarding. Previous participants lens and are based on communityother professionals is also useful,in the program have gone on to input and needs. Coming fromand LinkedIn can be a goodenter careers that include policy a context-informed perspectiveresource to search for potentialanalysis, strategic development helps shape the right questionsconnections or matches in yourand economics. Others have to be asked and addressed. It alsoarea of interest. We also havecontinued into masters degree allows for appropriate and practicalour Rivers to Success programprograms in research and policy recommendations to be madeat Indspire where participantsevaluation, health studies and towards the desired changes thecan sign up to be matched with community wants to see. Whena mentor. Additionally, I wouldpsychological science. Building Indigenous people are supportedsuggest following Indigenousrelationships and supporting by non-Indigenous people inresearch organizations on others in their success has been a sharing their truths, mutuallysocial media to learn aboutpositive experience, and that has respectful relationships can be builtupcoming training, workshops made me feel grateful to be a part with the shared goal to enrich andor job opportunities.of this program. benefit Canada as a whole. Why are spaces like the What particular areas Throughout your time in theRN so important forof research have you RN, was there any particularIndigenous research andpersonally found the report or finding thatIndigenous researchers?most intriguing and/or surprised you?What are they doing that other spaces cant? rewarding? What areas do My experience leading the projectyou see yourself exploring Journeys to Success: EmpoweringThis is important because therein the next five years?Indigenous Visions of Successis a need to increase Indigenous Through Photovoice, offeredresearchers in many fields of work.With my background in commu-a valuable opportunity to learnThis program provides a uniquenity work and development, Im from the perspectives of others. Itspace because it is designed todrawn to research that involves surprised me how much sharingsupport a small cohort of fourIndigenous people and communi-and discussing our thoughtsIndigenous Research Assistants.ties in the process. It interests using photos expanded our ownThis creates an environmentme most to uncover, understand understanding and knowledge.where supportive connectionsand highlight peoples experi-Being part of the project providedand relationships are developed us with a positive experience toamong the group. This has helpedences. Something that has stood engage with and learn from otherbuild our confidence through theout is how Indigenous students Indigenous peers in the process.program and feel valued for whatfind ways to create community It also built capacity for eightwe bring. The Indigenous researchamong themselves and strive to Indigenous co-researchers whoreading circles and speaker seriesfill in gaps in support from their were trained on the photovoicewere also great opportunities forpost-secondary institutions. Going research method. This resulted in aus to express ideas, expand ourforward, we see that further work collaborative report and event thatknowledge, and meet others inneeds to be done to leverage shared our photos/narratives andthe research field.research that has already been celebrated our visions of success. completed to facilitate more On a more personal note:impactful research. A key area of What would you say tohow long have you beenfocus includes learning strategies Indigenous post-secondaryworking with this program? students who are interestedWhat do you love mostto mobilize research beyond in a research- or analytics- about doing what you do? reports and into actionable based career but arent sureI started in May 2021 as achanges needed for Indigenous how to go forward? How canResearch Assistant and had thestudents. It will be important they take the next steps onopportunity to stay with theto create spaces for knowledge their journey? program to support the nextsharing with different audiences Connecting with a mentor who hascohort of Research Assistants.and make necessary connections a background in research is a greatKnowing that the work we do hastowards the equal inclusion of way to start learning and exploringhad a positive impact has felt veryIndigenous communities. 48indspiration2023'