In August of 2021, Red Earth Cree Nation (RECN) approached Dr. Jobin to support their important governance rebuilding work. RECN proposed a partnership with the University of Alberta to develop community consultation and background research to support the development of a renewed Convention Act, a law laying out the governing framework of the nation. Under the guidance of RECN’s Governance Advisory Council and working with Alana Bitsuie (RECN’s Director of Governance Development and Research), the research design aims to help RECN discuss governance development while staying rooted in Nehiyawak (Cree) language, history, and culture. By applying the seven-phase Indigenous Governance and Partnerships (IGP) Method, this project provides various community-identified deliverables.
The outcomes of the first phase of this project, which wrapped up in 2025, include a booklet which was produced as a capstone project with RECN by NS430 in 2024. The booklet provides a history of RECN and is now available for viewing on the project website. Additionally, RECN produced a video, also available on the project website, highlighting an important workshop in the community at which Dr. Jobin was a guest.
This project is a component of a larger IGP research project that is developing a virtual research toolbox of resurgent Indigenous governance research methods and tools. The methods being developed from this important work supports how research is done with Indigenous peoples.
Shalene Jobin 