IREN2025 | Introduction to research and northern issues

INQ and its Training Committee are pleased to launch the call for applications for the 2025 edition of the Introduction to Northern Research and Issues (IREN) training program.

About the Training

This three-day intensive training provides participants with practical tools to initiate or deepen a research project in a northern context. It emphasizes co-constructed approaches, applied communication methods, and the development of respectful relationships among all stakeholders. The goal is to foster collaborative, ethical research practices that are adapted to the realities of the North. 

The training is offered in person. Participants will be required to complete seven preparatory online modules (totalling approximately 15 hours) before the immersive in-person session. 

The training will alternate between English and French, depending on the language of the speakers. Bilingualism is therefore required.

Spots are limited — only 25 participants will be selected.

Target Audience:

Twenty-five graduate students or postdoctoral fellows from various disciplines who are initiating or pursuing a research project related to Northern Quebec (>49°N) or the Canadian Arctic (>55°N) will be selected through a call for applications.

A New Territorial Anchor: A First Edition on Innu Land

For the very first time, the training will take place on the land itself, at the traditional Innu site of Kanapeut, near Pessamit. This meaningful and historically rich location will provide an exceptional setting that will enhance the experience of every participant.

The traditional Innu site of Kanapeut is a place where Innu culture comes alive. It is a space for the transmission of Innu-aitun—a culture that encompasses not only language and ways of life, but also the deep connection to the land, spirituality, and core values. It pays tribute to the ancestors, grandparents, and parents who have preserved this heritage for thousands of years, up to the present day. (Source: Indigenous Tourism Québec)

To give you a better sense of the camp where the training will take place, we invite you to visit the associated Facebook page. Please note that the entire training will be held on site, in a traditional tent and outdoors. Participants will also be accommodated on site (in tents).

Dates & Practical Info

The training will take place from November 9 to 13, 2025, according to the following schedule:

• Group departure from Québec City: November 9
• Training: November 10, 11, and 12
• Group return to Québec City: November 13

Price: $350 per person*

*At a later date, selected candidates will be given the payment details.

This price includes:

• Access to the preparatory modules via the BRIO platform
• Group transportation between Québec City and the training site
• Accommodation and meals from the evening of November 10 to noon on November 13
• A certificate of participation upon completion of the training

Travel grants to support transportation to Québec City will be made available and allocated based on demonstrated need and participants’ region of origin.

Please note that the training will alternate between English and French depending on the speakers' language of choice. Bilingualism is therefore required.

Program and Training Objectives

This training is designed to equip participants with the tools to engage more effectively with local communities when planning their research projects, in order to better respond to community needs and facilitate knowledge sharing.

The following themes will be addressed:

• Key issues, challenges, and benefits of conducting research in a northern context
• Knowledge mobilization and sharing within Northern communities, including knowledge co-creation
• Introductory activities on Indigenous cultures
• Methodologies and protocols specific to Northern research

Networking is also a central objective of the training. Participants will benefit from an immersive experience that fosters meaningful connections with students and professionals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, including members of Indigenous communities.

Selected participants will also be invited to complete a series of online preparatory modules in the weeks leading up to the in-person training. These modules, presented as short videos and readings, will cover northern research, as well as Indigenous history and culture in Québec. Participants should plan for approximately 15 hours to complete this preliminary training.

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Organizing Committee:

Rachel Hussherr – INQ team, Training Coordinator

Andréanne Bernatchez – INQ team, Communications Officer

Stéphanie Guilherme – Professor, Université Laval, and Chair of the INQ Training Committee

Paul Bégin-Duschesne – Research Officer at UQAC and Representative of the Nikanite First Nations Centre

Sophie Pouillé – Postdoctoral Fellow and APECS Representative

Partners:

Nikanite First Nations Centre

Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS)

Additional partners to be confirmed

Photos: courtesy of Éric Kanapé