On September 12 and 13, 2014, invited representatives gathered for an inaugural Interior Nations' Research Forum concerning Indigenous research, data and ethical relationships at Tk'emlúps (where the rivers meet) in Secwepemcul'ecw (the lands of the Secwepemc Nation). Representatives came from across the  seven interior Indigenous Nations: Secwepemc, Nlaka'pamux, Ktunaxa, Syilx, St'atl'imc, Tsilqhot'in and Dãkelh Dené. Also present were representatives from Thompson Rivers University (TRU); First Nations Health Authority (FNHA); Interior Health Authority (IHA); Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC); in addition to a complement of  Indigenous scholars with interests in Health and Research.

The Interior Nations' Research Forum was an ambitious project to carry out. The two-day gathering of knowledge and of people was well received and attended by community members, scholars, researchers and academics. It was an exploratory opportunity in relationship building through research. Structured opportunities were offered to focus upon research and re-search as it relates to articulated vision of Health and Wellbeing.  Also identified were processes, procedures, values and principles that can ground the healing of the intellectual damage that has been done to Indigenous knowledge systems over generations through research.

The intended outcomes for this inaugural forum were to:

• Engage our Aboriginal Scholars to inform us as Indigenous Peoples, acknowledge what we need to know locally to serve ourselves.

• Build Relationships between Aboriginal Researchers and Institutions (Academic and Administrative and Governance) through culturally relevant and reflective sharing and cultural presentations.

• Engage Institutions on research needs identified by Aboriginal peoples

• Create an Interior Nations' Research Framework with like minds (Aboriginal Scholars and Institutions).

Check out the forum's video report to see what happened and learn more!