What is the Knowledge Agenda?

The Knowledge Agenda: Northern Research for Northern Priorities provides overarching guidance for science funders and researchers on the research priorities of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). It promotes collaboration and guides the mobilization of scientific, Indigenous and local knowledge. As a whole-government document, the Knowledge Agenda sets out research needs across all GNWT departments and directs research toward areas that reflect the interests and priorities of Northerners. 

What are the research priorities identified in the Knowledge Agenda?

The Knowledge Agenda consists of 5 core research areas and 3 cross-cutting themes.

Core research areas:

1. Cultural Sustainability - Understanding the impacts of development and climate change on northern cultures, and improving the preservation and use of cultural practices, Indigenous knowledge, and languages.
2. Environmental Stewardship - Maintaining northern biodiversity, reducing cumulative effects, supporting food security and sustainable economic activity, developing innovative monitoring and research technologies and support for evidence-based decision-making.
3. Health and Wellness - Addressing mental health and addictions, health risk from environmental contaminants and improving care and delivery of health and social services.
4. Natural Resource Management - improving the discovery, assessment and utilization of natural resources and managing environmental impacts caused by resource development and a changing environment.
5. Enduring Communities – Advancing social and economic research priorities, such as evolving land use and business strategies in a northern context, along with civil infrastructure-related research priorities, such as optimizing the design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure.

Cross-cutting themes:

1. Climate Change
2. Indigenous Partnerships and Engagement
3. Data Management and Emerging Technologies
4. Enhanced Roles for NWT Residents