Indigenous Network

Building Connections

Indigenous Trainee Circle for Bioinformatics Training is dedicated to building connections and supporting Indigenous researchers and trainees in genomics, bioinformatics, and health data science. Through our partnership with the Canadian Bioinformatics Hub, we are creating a vibrant community that celebrates Indigenous knowledge and promotes leadership in scientific research.

Our Commitment to IDEA

We will prioritize Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) in all our initiatives:

  • ✓ Proactively identifying and removing participation barriers
  • ✓ Building representative cohorts of bioinformaticians
  • ✓ Indigenous-led IDEA committee for guidance

Expected Training Support

Dedicated resources and opportunities for Indigenous scholars will include:

  • ✓ Targeted training awards for Indigenous scholars
  • ✓ Co-created training programs
  • ✓ Community-based training initiatives
  • ✓ Indigenous-led workshops
  • ✓ Community event support with a budget of $5,000 per province per year

Future Key Partnerships

  • Silent Genomes Project
  • First Nations Technology Council
  • Indigenous Genetics Circle (IGC)
  • University of Saskatchewan Indigenous Engagement

Mentorship Programs under development

  • IDEA-centric mentorship approach
  • National peer mentoring network
  • Community networking opportunities
  • Bioinformatics User Groups (BUGs)

Indigenous Knowledge

  • Integration of OCAP® principles
  • Adherence to CARE principles
  • Culturally sensitive approaches
  • Community-based decision making

Pan-Canadian Genome Library Integration

Our network will be integrated with the Pan-Canadian Genome Library (PCGL) project, which will:

  • Support research using Indigenous data respectfully
  • Collaborate with the Silent Genome Project
  • Provide training on understanding bias and diversity in genomic datasets
  • Develop PCGL-specific training materials to ensure data privacy and ethical use of PCGL data to facilitate research discovery

Join Our Community

We are building a strong, supportive network for Indigenous researchers and trainees in genomics, bioinformatics, and health data science. Through our combined efforts in training, community engagement, and mentorship, we aim to increase Indigenous representation and leadership in these vital fields.

Connect With Us