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Indigenous & Northern Communities

Signal49 Research helps leaders build a prosperous, healthy future for Indigenous and Northern communities, governments, and businesses. As a leader in research and stakeholder engagement, our work addresses critical knowledge gaps that challenge decision- and policy-making around Northern and remote development, reconciliation, and future skills.

100+

Outputs under the Indigenous & Northern Communities team

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Featured Research

Indigenous-Led Education Infrastructure—May 2026

Mamawmatawa Holistic Education Centre: An Indigenous-Led Model for Education Infrastructure Development This spotlight examines Mamawmatawa Holistic Education Centre (MHEC) in Constance Lake First Nation, which comprises elementary and secondary schools…
Topics: Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Education in Canada, First Nations in Canada
Indigenous Employment, Indigenous Infrastructure, Indigenous Self-Determination, Northern Canada, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada
Spotlight
May 14, 2026 14 min read
Series:Indigenous Economic Realities

Indigenous Economic Realities: $104-billion Opportunity—April 2026

Indigenous Economic Realities: A $104-Billion Opportunity for Indigenous Economic Involvement From coast to coast to coast, Indigenous peoples are showing how project development can be done differently. They are building…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Business Research, Canadian Territories
Economy Analysis, Energy Economics, Indigenous Capacity Building, Indigenous Economic Development, Indigenous Infrastructure, Oil and Gas, Provincial Research, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada, Sustainable Finance
Online Experience
April 14, 2026 10 min read

Indigenous Leadership Closing Infrastructure Gaps—April 2026

Closing Community Infrastructure Gaps: Indigenous-Driven Solutions This research takes a descriptive, evidence-based approach to show how Indigenous communities are responding to infrastructure challenges. The focus on real-world examples reflects how…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Canada Budget, Economy Analysis
Extreme Weather, First Nations in Canada, GDP Canada, Household in Economics, Indigenous Capacity Building, Indigenous Economic Development, Indigenous Employment, Indigenous Infrastructure, Indigenous Reconciliation, Indigenous Resilience in Canada, Indigenous Self-Determination, Industry Analysis, Inuit in Canada, Labour Market, Métis in Canada, Northern Canada, Post Secondary Education in Canada, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada, Trade Export and Import
Primer
April 13, 2026 23 min read

Immigration and Labour Markets in Canada’s North—March 2026

Immigration in Canada’s North: Labour Market Impacts In this research, we examine the impact of immigration on labour markets in five regions of Canada’s North: Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Northern…
Topics: Immigration Research and Policy, Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Economy Analysis, Employment Rate in Canada
First Nations in Canada, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Inclusive Growth, Indigenous Capacity Building, Industry Analysis, Labour Market, Migrant Workers in Canada, Northern Canada, Northwest Territories, Nunavut Territory, Population Research, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada, Yukon Territory
Online Experience
March 25, 2026 17 min read

Indigenous Community Health Workers Across Canada—March 2026

Indigenous Community Health Workers in Canada: Revealing a Critical Backbone of Community Health In this research, we examine the occupational settings, educational backgrounds, and roles filled by Indigenous community health…
Topics: Health and Healthcare, Indigenous Communities
Skills and Workforce Development
Subject Matter: Canadian Territories, Education in Canada
First Nations in Canada, Health Education, Health Services Research, Healthcare in Canada, Indigenous Employment, Indigenous Infrastructure, Indigenous Self-Determination, Inuit in Canada, Northern Canada, Post Secondary Education in Canada, Provincial Research, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada, Treatment of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Workplace Barriers
Online Experience
March 11, 2026 8 min read

Learning From One Another: Skill Gaps in Labour Markets in Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavut

This Learning From One Another report builds on previous reports, identifying the occupations and skills most in demand across three regions: Northern Ontario, Yukon, and Nunavut. Which skills and occupations…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Immigration Research and Policy
Indigenous Communities, Industry Economic Analysis, Urban City Economic Analysis
Subject Matter: Business Research, Corporate Innovation
COVID 19 Impact, Education in Canada, Employment Rate in Canada, Healthcare in Canada, Housing Market Forecast, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Indigenous Employment, Industry Analysis, Innovation and Growth, Labour Market, Northern Canada, Nunavut Territory, Ontario, Post Secondary Education in Canada, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada, Salary Research, Tourism Analysis, Upskilling the Workforce, Workplace Barriers, Yukon Territory
Impact paper, Summary for executives​
March 26, 2025 43 min read

Recruiting and Retaining Indigenous Professionals—July 2025

Insights from Indigenous Executives: Recruitment and Retention in Business, Finance, and Administration Indigenous professionals play a vital role in advancing economic reconciliation and expanding community-driven opportunities, yet they remain considerably…
Topics: DEI Research, Indigenous Communities
People and Culture
Subject Matter: DEI in the Workplace, Education in Canada
Human Resources Management, Inclusive Practices in the Workplace, Indigenous Economic Development, Indigenous Employment, Industry Analysis, Northern Canada, Organizational Culture, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada, Treatment of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Workplace Barriers
Issue briefing​
July 10, 2025 25 min read

Latest Research

Indigenous-Led Education Infrastructure—May 2026

Mamawmatawa Holistic Education Centre: An Indigenous-Led Model for Education Infrastructure Development This spotlight examines Mamawmatawa Holistic Education Centre (MHEC) in Constance Lake First Nation, which comprises elementary and secondary schools…
Topics: Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Education in Canada, First Nations in Canada
Indigenous Employment, Indigenous Infrastructure, Indigenous Self-Determination, Northern Canada, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada
Spotlight
May 14, 2026 14 min read

Infrastructures éducatives gérées par des Autochtones —Mai 2026

Le Mamawmatawa Holistic Education Centre : Un modèle de développement d’infrastructures scolaires piloté par des Autochtones Ce rapport Pleins feux présente le Mamawmatawa Holistic Education Centre de la Première Nation…
Topics: Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Education in Canada, First Nations in Canada
Indigenous Employment, Indigenous Infrastructure, Indigenous Self-Determination, Northern Canada, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada
Spotlight
May 14, 2026 14 min read
Series:Indigenous Economic Realities

Indigenous Economic Realities: $104-billion Opportunity—April 2026

Indigenous Economic Realities: A $104-Billion Opportunity for Indigenous Economic Involvement From coast to coast to coast, Indigenous peoples are showing how project development can be done differently. They are building…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Business Research, Canadian Territories
Economy Analysis, Energy Economics, Indigenous Capacity Building, Indigenous Economic Development, Indigenous Infrastructure, Oil and Gas, Provincial Research, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada, Sustainable Finance
Online Experience
April 14, 2026 10 min read
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Executive Council

Where senior leaders from across Canada connect to discuss innovation, change, and leadership.

Drive success and prosperity for industry, public sector organizations, and Indigenous communities and businesses by learning how to create and leverage equitable, productive, and collaborative corporate-Indigenous relations.

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Research Centre

Funded by stakeholders, research centres investigate and discuss Canada’s challenges and opportunities.

This collaborative research initiative provides a safe space for constructive dialogue on Northern issues. The centre embraces the North’s diversity and works to fill the knowledge gaps that challenge decision-making and policy development on Northern and Indigenous policy issues.

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