Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health (IIPH) National Listening Tour
October 2024 - January 2026

When Dr. Chelsea Gabel began her term as Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health (IIPH) on October 1, 2024, she grounded her leadership in a simple commitment: to listen first. Over the past year, she and members of her team have travelled across the country to meet with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community leaders, researchers, students, Indigenous organizations, and health partners to understand the realities of Indigenous health research and the structural barriers shaping it today.

Her Listening Tour has taken her across the country to Winnipeg (MB), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Calgary, Alberta; Vancouver, British Columbia, Whitehorse, Yukon; Ottawa, Ontario; Montreal, Québec; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; Iqaluit, Nunavut; and more. She has held dozens of on-the-ground, community-based conversations, meeting directly with those who live, work, and lead in these spaces.

These visits provided space for participants to speak openly about peer review, funding barriers, identity and ethics concerns, community-led research needs, mentorship gaps, and the importance of culturally grounded governance.

As she strengthens national relationships, Dr. Gabel has also begun early international conversations with Indigenous scholars, which began in Oslo, Norway and Honolulu, Hawai’i. These initial engagements marked the beginning of broader efforts to build global connections and shared learning across Indigenous health research systems.

Throughout 2026, she will continue to expand these international dialogues with Indigenous scholars worldwide.

This newsletter offers a high-level overview of Dr. Gabel’s National Listening Tour, focusing on the locations visited and the scope of engagement during her first year.

Strengthening Collaboration with CIHR Institutes

To advance its mandate, the IIPH is strengthening partnerships with other CIHR Institutes so Indigenous health priorities are reflected across the full spectrum of CIHR supported research. Working together enables more coordinated efforts, supports capacity building, and helps ensure that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis perspectives guide health research nationally.

Presentations to Institute Advisory Boards:

May 2024
CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR)

May 2024
CIHR Institute of Gender and Health (IGH)

October 2024
CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (III)

November 2024
CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH)
Indigenous Gender and Wellness Phase 3 Knowledge Sharing Workshop

January 2025
Vancouver, British Columbia
Co-host with Dr. Angela Kaida, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health (IGH).
Midterm Meeting for the ‘Diabetes Prevention and Treatment in Indigenous Communities: Resilience and Wellness Team Grants’ and the ‘Diabetes, Psychosocial Health, Prevention and Self-Management Operating Grants’

May 2025
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Co-host with Dr. Norman Rosenblum, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD).
Best Brains Exchange (BBE)

September 2025
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Co-facilitators: Chelsea Gabel, Robyn Sabourin, and Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner, President/Director, Prairie Centre for Racial Justice.

This BBE brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous academics, policymakers and community members to examine international and Canadian evidence to support a dialogue on guaranteed basic income (GBI) through a lens unique to Manitoba and in the context of Truth and Reconciliation.

The exchange explored the feasibility and desirability of adapting existing provincial income support programs to function more like a guaranteed basic income, examined whether such changes could improve population health outcomes, and considered alignment with community values, including Indigenous values.
Joint Institute Advisory Board Meeting

November 2025
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
IIPH co-hosted this meeting with CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH).

Expanding Connections with Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR)

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) launched the Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR) Program in 2018. As IIPH’s flagship program and supported financially by the other 12 CIHR Institutes, the NEIHR Program has laid the groundwork for a national network of Centres focused on strengthening Indigenous research capacity, training and mentoring, and supporting Indigenous community-based health research that reflects the priorities and values of Indigenous Peoples.

On October 9, 2024, the Minister of Health announced a federal investment of $37.6 million over five years to support the renewal and expansion of the NEIHR program. This builds on a total commitment of $105.5 million over 15 years from CIHR and its partners.

National Gathering of NEIHR Principal Investigators and CIHR Scientific Directors

February 2025
Ottawa, Ontario
Organizer and Chair

Dr. Chelsea Gabel, in her role as Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health (IIPH), convened all NEIHR Principal Investigators, the NEIHR National Coordinating Centre, and the 13 CIHR Scientific Directors for the first time.

Convened through IIPH, the meeting created a dedicated space to strengthen national coordination, deepen relationships, and advance alignment of strategic and financial commitments to the NEIHR program across CIHR Institutes, reflecting the shared responsibility of all Institutes for supporting the NEIHRs as a core part of the national Indigenous health research ecosystem.

Building on this momentum and grounded in the extensive listening and Think Tank work undertaken over the past 15 months, the February 2026 NEIHR National Coordinating Centre Annual Meeting in Ottawa will intentionally broaden the conversation beyond NEIHR leadership to support meaningful dialogue across the wider Indigenous health research landscape. IIPH is eager to continue this coordination and engagement.
NEIHR Principal Investigators’ Retreat

September 2025
Montreal, Québec
Organizer and host

The NEIHR PI Retreat was intended to strengthen relationships among NEIHR PIs and create space to share ongoing work across networks; clarify the role of the National Coordinating Centre; engage in strategic priorities and planning with IIPH; and identify opportunities for future collaboration.
NEIHR Principal Investigators’ Meeting

October 2025

IIPH joined for a portion of the discussion to share key updates and hear directly about partners’ needs and priorities. The input from these conversations supports IIPH in refining strategies that strengthen and better support researchers connected to the NEIHRs.
National Gathering of Graduate Students (NGGS)

October 2025
Banff, Alberta

The NGGS is an annual event that brings together Indigenous graduate students from across Canada who are conducting research on Indigenous health and well being. The 2025 edition was organized by the Indigenous Primary Health Care Policy and Research (IPHCPR) Network, Alberta’s NEIHR hub.

Dr. Chelsea Gabel, along with Dr. Robert Henry, Chair of the NEIHR National Coordinating Centre, presented Certificates of Excellence to four students selected from numerous high quality submitted abstracts.
Rapid Response Research on Wildfire Impacts in Indigenous Communities

IIPH supported the NEIHR National Coordinating Centre in advocating for direct funding from the Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies to the nātawihowin First Nations and mamawiikikayaahk Métis Research Networks (SK-NEIHR), to enable rapid-response research on the impacts of wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

National Indigenous Health Think Tank

October 1-2, 2025
Ottawa, Ontario
Hosted by IIPH

To support the development of a strategic plan that will guide IIPH’s work over the next five years, IIPH convened its Think Tank, a landmark national gathering of Indigenous health scholars, community leaders, policymakers, and funding agencies to strengthen the Indigenous health research ecosystem in Canada. The event fostered strategic discussions on advancing self-determination, data sovereignty, and community based research through policy and program innovation.

The IIPH team is preparing the Think Tank report and will share it soon. In the meantime, we invite you to check out the recap video!

Initiatives and Funding Opportunities

IIPH has provided national leadership by supporting major initiatives to advance Indigenous health research funding, such as the following:

The Indigenous Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (I-HeLTI)

Implemented with strategic leadership from IIPH and the CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH).

Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and conditions related to mental wellness, are a priority for Indigenous Peoples in Canada. As a result, three I-HeLTI funding opportunities were developed and launched to support Indigenous-focused Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) cohorts, in collaboration with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award

Co-led by the CIHR Institutes of Infection and Immunity (III) and IIPH and supported by internal and non-governmental partners.

REDI supports scholars from underrepresented communities in launching their research careers in Canada, and its 2025 edition includes a dedicated stream for Indigenous scholars!
Indigenous Research Chair in Nursing initiative

Led by Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health

The 2019 edition of the Indigenous Research Chair in Nursing initiative supports nurses of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous ancestry to lead research in Indigenous Health Nursing. It advances knowledge and best and wise practices across nursing practice, education, research, and administration.

Building Stronger International Relations

Building Relationships with Norwegian Partners

October 2025

Dr. Chelsea Gabel met with Canada’s Ambassador to Norway, Amy Baker, and with researchers from the Centre for Sami Health Research.

Lena Øvregård, Health Coordinator, and Kristine Ballari, Language Department Lead at Sámi House Oslo, attended IIPH’s Think Tank. Their participation helped build relationships and foster dialogue in support of future research partnerships and knowledge exchange between the two countries.
International Indigenous Dementia Research Network (IIDRN) Annual Conference

October 2025
Honolulu, Hawai’i, United States

Dr. Chelsea Gabel was a keynote speaker at this conference, which brings together researchers focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Indigenous Peoples and supports the sharing of knowledge and research experience in this area.

Thank you

Deepening relationships at home, strengthening connections globally.

We thank the communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, researchers, partners, and staff who guide and strengthen the work of the Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health. We look forward to building on this progress and continuing our shared commitment to advancing Indigenous health research.

Connect with IIPH!