University of Manitoba researcher honoured for app helping Indigenous communities collect and own data
A researcher at the University of Manitoba is being honoured for her work in the creation of an app that allows Indigenous communities to survey their residents about health and social issues, and own the data they collect.
Dr. Moneca Sinclaire, a researcher in the department of environment and geography, was given the Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation – Indigenous for her work with the app.
“I think what it does is it opens the door for others to know about the project,” she said in an interview with CTV News Winnipeg on Friday.
“I’m very honoured it got selected, because to me it shows that people are listening and people are understanding that we as Indigenous people want to be able to collect our own data and have data sovereignty.”
Sinclaire explained that the app was initially designed with questions around COVID-19.
From there, chiefs and councils inquired about whether they could also use the app to collect other types of information.
“The whole notion of data sovereignty is that it’s research for Indigenous people and by Indigenous people, so we said, ‘Yes, why not?’” Sinclaire said.
She said the app has now evolved, with communities asking questions about various topics, including language.
“Communities are starting to take ownership of that app and creating their own questions that would be more useful for their communities,” she said.
Sinclaire noted that the communities decide for themselves what topics they want to survey residents about.
“We can train people in the communities to use the app, and then they can collect data in their community,” she said.
“Part of the training is that we’ll show them how to use the data and what it could be used for.”
Sinclaire, who is working as an outreach coordinator for the app, came on board with the project in its second-year of development. She said her job is to take the app to various communities and show what it could do.
She noted it is an ongoing project, which they have made more accessible for the communities.
“The plan is to have long-term relationships with the communities,” Sinclaire said.
She added that the app is important because it gives communities ownership of their own data, as well as the ability to decide what information to collect and how to use it to help the community.
“This app is important because it will allow communities to be able to do that,” Sinclaire.
-With files from CTV’s Danton Unger.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Former Sask. massage therapist who sexually assaulted clients has day parole revoked
A former massage therapist who pleaded guilty to a string of sexual assaults has had his day parole revoked.