UBC Cluster for Indigenous Engagement, Development, and Research (CIEDAR) is an Indigenous and woman-led group of researchers, public health workers, and community members across Turtle Island. CIEDAR ensures that Indigenous voices are heard during current and future health emergencies.

Our Mission

CIEDAR was founded in March 2021 through funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) as part of the CoVaRR-Net, a rapid-response research network created to better understand COVID-19 variants of concern. 

While the many pillars within CoVaRR-Net focused on laboratory research and bench science, CIEDAR emerged as a crucial social science and public health pillar with a clear mission: to ensure culturally grounded knowledge sharing and engagement with Indigenous communities across the world. 

From the success of the UBC Grant for Catalyzing Research Cluster. CIEDAR has continued as The Cluster for Indigenous Engagement, Development, and Research Pandemic Preparedness (CIEDAR P2).  CIEDAR P2's goal is to expand and deepen our network of Indigenous researchers, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, organizations, community partners, and ally researchers through knowledge translation, communications, and in-person engagement visits. These partnerships have always been at the core of CIEDAR’s work, and we have prioritized the importance of conducting innovative and empowering research with Indigenous community partners.

We will continue to prioritize community engagement and knowledge translation, incorporating Indigenous ceremony and cultural knowledge into symposia and other events, and advancing Indigenous knowledge and interests through various media platforms.

  • To achieve this mission, we’ve …

    • Employed 28 students, including 13 Indigenous students

    • Conducted 2 binational surveys  

    • Presented at over 35 conferences and webinars

    • Received $2.6 million CAD in funding

    CIEDAR connected a network of Indigenous researchers, community leaders, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and ally researchers who work for and with Indigenous communities and Native Nations from Canada, the United States, and New Zealand.

    We've worked with researchers and public policy makers to understand how to do research in collaboration with Indigenous communities in Canada and around the world, something that will positively improve the way health research is done and will lead to the inclusion of more Indigenous Peoples in research going forward.

    • UBC Grants for Catalyzing Research Clusters

    • CIHR Moving Upstream: Structural Determinants of Health - Catalyst Grant

    • UBC Stone Research Grants

    • UBC Digital Scholarship in the Arts (DiSA)

    • UBC Indigenous Strategic Initiatives (ISI) Fund

    • The Canadian Immunization Research Network CIHR

    • The Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network CIHR

    • SSHRC Partnership Development Grant

    • UBC Health After 2020 Award Cohorts 2 and 3

    • UBC Health HIFI Award

    • Indigenous Cluster Pilot Award

    • Two UBC Arts Undergraduate Research Awards

    • University of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Student Research Awards

    • Monkeypox Rapid Response CIHR

    • The University of Washingtons Indigenous Wellness Research Institute - Indigenous HIV/AIDS Research Training (IHART) Program

    • The University of Washingtons Indigenous Wellness Research Institute - Building Indigenuity, Generating HIV Science: HIV/AIDS Research Training (BIG HART) Fellowship Program

    • Partnership Recognition and Exploration (PRE) Fund

    • The University of Washington Nature and Health - 2022 Nature and Health Symposium: Body, Mind, and Soul: A Return to Natures Gifts Award

  • Although our initial funding from CoVaRR-Net ended in March 2025, CIEDAR is growing through new partnerships and support.

    From the success of the UBC Grant for Catalyzing Research Cluster. CIEDAR has been able to continue as The Cluster for Indigenous Engagement, Development, and Research Pandemic Preparedness (CIEDAR P2). We remain grounded in our mission to co-create knowledge with Indigenous communities, advocate for health equity, and uplift Indigenous-rooted responses to systemic challenges.

Partner with us

We are actively seeking partnerships and funding to continue and expand this important work. Join us in building an engaged, culturally respectful, and research-informed future with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.

If you are interested in partnering with CIEDAR, please contact us at tamara.chavez@ubc.ca.