The strategic plan is published by the federal research granting agencies—the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council—and fulfills a priority of the Canada Research Coordinating Committee to co-develop with Indigenous Peoples an interdisciplinary research and research training model that contributes to reconciliation.

In 2021, the CRCC published a progress report on the SIRC initiative.

This report focuses on a series of engagements held by the three federal research funding agencies on Indigenous citizenship and membership affirmation throughout spring and summer 2023. As a commitment under Setting new directions to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada 2019-2022, a strategic plan devoted to identifying how better to support Indigenous research and research training in Canada, engagement focused on identifying a path forward with respect to Indigenous citizenship and membership affirmation on the part of the agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Research excellence includes the strengthening of Indigenous self-determination, leadership and capacity in research and research training, and respecting the value of Indigenous Knowledge systems. SSHRC has long been committed to supporting research by and with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. SSHRC’s Indigenous Advisory Circle—formed in 2014—provides guidance to senior management to support and promote Indigenous research and talent development.

The overall goal of this Statement of Principles is to recognize that Indigenous research, which includes a wide range of unique theoretical and methodological approaches, supports SSHRC’s commitment to scholarly excellence.

The Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health (IIPH) fosters the advancement of a national health research agenda to improve and promote the health of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in Canada, through research, knowledge translation and capacity building. The Institute's pursuit of research excellence is enhanced by respect for community research priorities and Indigenous knowledges, values and cultures.

Research and reconciliation: Meaningful advancement of Indigenous self-determination in research was viewed as an important step towards reconciliation and decolonization of research practices. Respondents indicated the need to acknowledge the harm to Indigenous Peoples that has resulted from colonial approaches to research, as part of the research process going forward. Greater Indigenous control over research, free from external biases and moving toward “research sovereignty” was a theme throughout.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation are dedicated to promoting the leadership of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples through the compensation of individuals leading and participating in Indigenous research and research training. Commitments to Indigenous research and reconciliation are expressed in the Setting New Directions to Support Indigenous Research and Research Training in Canada strategy, as well as within the broader Government of Canada mandate to work toward reconciliation.

The TCPS 2 (2022) has replaced TCPS 2 (2018) as the official human research ethics policy of the Agencies.