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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

Sioux Lookout First Nations Diabetes Program—May 2026

Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority Spotlight: Rising to the Challenge With the Community Health Worker Diabetes Program In this research, we look at the Sioux First Nations Community Health…
Topics: Health and Healthcare, Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Burden of Disease, First Nations in Canada
Health Education, Health Services Research, Healthcare in Canada, Inclusive Practices in the Workplace, Indigenous Capacity Building, Indigenous Reconciliation, Northern Canada, Ontario, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada, Sense of Belonging at Work, Workplace Barriers
Spotlight
May 25, 2026 11 min read

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

Latest Research

Series:Future Skills Podcast

Supporting Indigenous Community Health Workers: Lessons from Ontario and Alaska

Française à suivre Future Skills Centre Podcast: Season 6, Episode 5 (Bonus) Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify All Future Skills Episodes In this bonus episode of the Future…
Topics: Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Health Services Research, Healthcare in Canada
Indigenous Infrastructure, Northern Canada, Treatment of Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Podcast
August 31, 2026 30-min listen

A Framework for Indigenous Export Readiness—June 2026

The 3Ds of Indigenous Export Readiness: Demonstration, Durability, and De-risking in Practice This study explores how Indigenous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada develop the skills and capabilities required…
Topics: Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Business Research, Economy Analysis
Indigenous Capacity Building, Indigenous Economic Development, Indigenous Infrastructure, Indigenous Reconciliation, Indigenous Self-Determination, Industry Analysis
Impact paper, Summary for executives​
June 29, 2026 55 min read

Un cadre pour la préparation des entreprises autochtones à l’exportation – juin 2026

Les 3 D de la préparation à l’exportation des entreprises autochtones : Démonstration, durabilité et diminution des risques dans la pratique Cette étude examine comment les petites et moyennes entreprises…
Topics: Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Business Research, Economy Analysis
Indigenous Capacity Building, Indigenous Economic Development, Indigenous Infrastructure, Indigenous Reconciliation, Indigenous Self-Determination, Industry Analysis
Impact paper
June 29, 2026 55 min read
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Events

Ready to Export? A Conversation With Indigenous Exporters and Ecosystem Leaders 

The conversation will build on the findings to explore what readiness looks like in practice and what the ecosystem can do with that knowledge. It will also introduce a shared way to understand readiness and explore how stronger pathways to global markets can support Indigenous economic self-determination.  

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Êtes-vous prêt à exporter? Une conversation avec des exportateurs autochtones et des chefs de file de l’écosystème

La discussion s’appuiera sur ces conclusions pour examiner à quoi ressemble concrètement la préparation à l’exportation et ce que l’écosystème peut faire de ces connaissances. Elle permettra également de définir une vision commune de ce qu’est l’état de préparation et d’examiner comment un meilleur accès aux marchés mondiaux peut favoriser l’autodétermination économique des Autochtones.

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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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