University College of the North (UCN) is proud to announce that Dr. Tariqul Islam and his research team have been awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Grant. This is the first SSHRC-funded research project to be administered directly by UCN since the institution became SSHRC-eligible.
UCN researchers have taken part in SSHRC-funded projects as co-applicants or collaborators on grants administered by other institutions. This award marks the first time UCN will serve as the administering institution for a federally funded research project.
The two-year, $80,104 grant will fund the project Challenges and Issues Faced by Northern Youth in Accessing Support Services Across Major Cities and Towns of Northern Manitoba -- The Pas, Thompson, and Flin Flon, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Tariqul Islam.
"This SSHRC-funded project seeks to advance equitable access to essential services for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in Northern Manitoba by centering lived experiences and working collaboratively with communities," said Dr. Tariqul Islam, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor, UCN Faculty of Arts, Business and Science. "The research reflects UCN's broader mandate to support Indigenous and northern communities by strengthening community engagement, supporting student research opportunities, and generating practical, culturally responsive, evidence-informed recommendations that can improve service delivery and promote youth and community well-being."
The research examines the barriers Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth face in accessing mental health care, addiction treatment, education, employment, housing and other essential support services across northern Manitoba. It will generate practical, evidence-based recommendations to make youth services more culturally safe, equitable and responsive to the needs of northern communities.
"This SSHRC-funded project offers an important opportunity to listen to northern youth and better understand the barriers they encounter when seeking support services. By examining experiences in The Pas, Thompson, and Flin Flon, we hope to inform the development of more accessible, responsive, and culturally appropriate services that reflect the realities of young people in Northern Manitoba," said Dr. Joseph Atoyebi, Co-Investigator, UCN Faculty of Arts, Business and Science.
The project will run over 24 months and will provide UCN undergraduate students with hands-on training as research assistants.
The research team includes:
- Dr. Tariqul Islam (Faculty of Arts, Business and Science - Social Science), Principal Investigator
- Dr. Joseph Atoyebi (Faculty of Arts, Business and Science - English/Linguistics), Co-Investigator
- Melanie Molin (Faculty of Arts, Business and Science - Cree Language/Aboriginal and Northern Studies), Collaborator
