A Landmark Partnership to Advance Indigenous-Led Health Research in Alberta

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On July 17th, a major step was taken to advance the health and well-being of Treaty First Nations children, youth, and families in Alberta. A landmark Memorandum of Relational Understanding (MORU) was signed in Edmonton between the First Nations Health Consortium (FNHC), the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary.

This exciting new partnership is dedicated to creating a collaborative research framework focused on developing Indigenous-led health solutions.

What This Partnership Means

This agreement is about putting research power back into the hands of First Nations communities. The partnership is grounded in crucial principles like Jordan’s Principle, OCAP®, Ethical Space, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), ensuring that all research is culturally safe, community-driven, and ethically based.

Key areas of focus will include:

  • Supporting research on health priorities identified by the community.

  • Building capacity for Indigenous students and health workers.

  • Advocating for policies that create greater health equity.

At AFCC, we see every day the importance of culturally safe, community-led solutions, especially for children and families through programs like our own Jordan’s Principle support services. We celebrate this landmark agreement and the positive impact it will have on Treaty First Nations across Alberta.

This initiative represents a vital move toward respectful, strengths-based research that supports self-determined health outcomes. We look forward to seeing the positive changes this partnership will bring.

To read more about this announcement, visit the University of Alberta’s news page. (Link this text to: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/news/news-releases-and-statements/announcements/2025/07/new-research-partnership-aims-to-improve-health-for-treaty-first-nations-children-families.html)

Dr. Tyler White, wearing a traditional feather headdress and regalia, ceremonially signs a hide, marking a new research partnership. Two men in suits stand beside him, observing the signing at a formal event inside a log building.

A historic moment is captured as Dr. Tyler White, CEO of the First Nations Health Consortium, ceremonially signs the Amisk Agreement hide. This new partnership between the FNHC, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary represents a powerful, Indigenous-led commitment to improving the health and well-being of First Nations children and families across Alberta.