The inaugural meeting of The Heartwork Collective (formerly the Indigenous Research Methods and Learners Network) took place on Pauquachin Territory (North Saanich, BC) in November of 2025. Participant were composed of 12 academics from across North America. The cohort is collectively known as the Sta'lo' Cohort, Sta'lo' is the Hul'q'umi'num' name for river.
Sta'lo' Cohorts Purpose:
To foster a network of support for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students using Indigenous research methods and navigating academia.
This is our group agreement – it is not perfect, but it meets enough core needs so that each of us feels invited to continue participation. This group agreement was written based on notes taken during a discussion on values on the morning of November 18th, 2025.
We appreciate past, present, and future ways of knowing and being.
We are accountable to ourselves and our communities.
We honour the land and the human and non-human beings it supports through reciprocity and stewardship.
We operate with inclusion and consensus.
We value love, care, safety, and humour in all aspects of our work.
To foster a network of support for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students using Indigenous research methods and navigating academia.
This is our group agreement – it is not perfect, but it meets enough core needs so that each of us feels invited to continue participation. This group agreement was written based on notes taken during a discussion on values on the morning of November 18th, 2025.
We appreciate past, present, and future ways of knowing and being.
We are accountable to ourselves and our communities.
We honour the land and the human and non-human beings it supports through reciprocity and stewardship.
We operate with inclusion and consensus.
We value love, care, safety, and humour in all aspects of our work.
Participant transportation to the meeting was generously funded by the Indigenous Center for Cumulative Effects
