KPE Associate Professor Tricia McGuire-Adams was recently appointed Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health Resurgence and awarded funding through the John R. Evans Leaders Award for her work on developing the Health Education and Resurgence Theory (HEART) lab at KPE.
Earlier this month, the federal government announced it would invest more than $690 million in science and research funding. More than $482 million will be distributed through the Research Support Fund (RSF) to ensure Canadian researchers and institutions are equipped to compete globally in the current research environment.
Over $198 million will support new and renewed Canada Research Chairs – among them Tricia McGuire-Adams, an associate professor from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto, who was appointed Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health Resurgence.
“The concept of Indigenous resurgence involves regenerating Indigenous ways of being and doing, particularly in the context of health,” says McGuire-Adams. “It is deeply rooted in Indigenous Knowledge systems and research methodologies.
“As Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health Resurgence, I aim to centre Indigenous theories and practices to advance Indigenous Peoples’ health and well-being.”
Funding from the Canada Research Chair Program allows exceptional researchers and their research teams across many disciplines to advance essential knowledge in areas such as artificial intelligence, Indigenous governance, mental health and work-life transitions, obesity and aging across populations, among others.
As a Canada Research Chairs Program partner, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is also committing nearly $11 million to support 43 research infrastructure projects at 27 institutions, through its John R. Evans Leaders Fund, named after former U of T President John Evans.
McGuire-Adams is among the fifty-five scholars from U of T to receive the funding for her work on developing the Health Education and Resurgence Theory (HEART) lab at KPE. The lab’s work will include creating a national collaborative study of First Nations disability, focusing on collecting data about disability and sport.
McGuire-Adams and her team will also advance understanding of how Anishinaabek perspectives of treaties inform Indigenous peoples’ access to physical cultural practices, while also amplifying the experiences of Indigenous and racialized women in martial arts.
“Ultimately, our work will create more opportunities to advance Anishinaabek-gikendaasowin (knowledge) in academic settings and communities,” says McGuire-Adams.
Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of KPE, said one of the key priorities of the Faculty’s Academic Plan is to ignite transformative inclusivity, guided by the strong belief that health and movement are human rights.
“The Faculty is committed to advancing these human rights by working towards reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and lifting barriers that currently exist in the field of kinesiology and physical education with regard to access, inclusivity, equity and belonging,” she said. “Tricia’s research into Indigenous ways of being and doing in the context of health is critical to addressing all four of our Faculty’s strategic priorities – from igniting transformative inclusivity to elevating health and well-being to fostering discovery, innovation and achievement to building partnerships and collaborations.
“On behalf of KPE, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Tricia on her Canada Research Chair appointment and funding for her important work.”