Knowledge mobilization takes five forms in this project:
1) The process of co-design which involves negotiation with and anonymized feedback directly to FNMI communities and universities.
The process of questionnaire co-design and negotiation with universities and associated First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities involves significant mutual education and information dissemination. This will be followed up with meetings with university administrators (particularly the Aboriginal education and Student Affairs officers) between the first and the follow-up survey. Once each survey is closed, we provide university-specific data (stripped of indentifiers) to the universities.
2) Dissemination to the students who respond to the questionnaire.
We give the students who take the survey answers to the questions. In addition, immediately upon completion of the survey all who take it are sent to a website that allows them to deepen their knowledge.
3) Academic dissemination.
Academic dissemination: because this tool is co-designed by FNMI experts, academic specialists and academic administrators and contributes to literature in Indigenous studies, education, and geography, we will publish in journals and make conference presentations in each of these disciplines.
4) Dissemination beyond the academy.
Beyond the academy: through the tool and the engaged way it is made, we hope to reach, help and influence educators and education administrators, FNMI organizations and communities, the larger public, students, and policy makers. We have presented to Ministry of Education officials in Newfoundland and Labrador. The PI has been interviewed by the CBC and participated in professional development days in school districts and at conferences designed to enhance communication between academics and educational administrators.
5) Anonymized data sharing with the larger public
Sharing the questionnaire: as the awareness survey will generate a large amount of valuable data, we have agreed to provide the questionnaire and ultimately the data (stripped of personal identifiers) to the managers of the Odesi/Nesstar portal at Queen’s to ensure web access to members of the public, FNMI communities, scholars and administrators world-wide in the year after the study is complete.