Indigenous Military Personnels’ Perspectives on Health Care Received within the Canadian Military Health System

Funding opportunity

Researchers are invited to apply for a new grant funding opportunity sponsored by the Canadian Forces Health Services Women and Diversity Health (WDH) program to conduct a research study exploring the health care needs and experiences of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members identifying as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis. This study provides an opportunity to drive health care system improvement.

Anticipated timeline and budget

  • Application deadline:
  • 9 October 2026 11:59 PM (PDT)
  • Estimated Project end date:
  • 30 June 2028
  • Grant funding available:
  • One research project up to $130,000

Background

Across the CAF’s Regular Force, Reserve Force and Canadian Rangers, approximately 3.1% identified as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, as of November 1, 2023. Department of National Defence. Indigenous [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Government of Canada; 2023–2024 [cited 2026 May 25]. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/proactive-disclosure/nddn-supplementary-estimates-b-2023-2024/background-notes/indigenous.html. Representation was about 3% within the Regular Force and Primary Reserve, and approximately 23% among Canadian Rangers.

Beyond improving recruitment and retention of Indigenous peoples, the CAF is committed to reducing gaps in health outcomes, including mental health outcomes, enhancing cultural competency, and improving the transition between the Canadian Military Health System (CMHS) and civilian and Indigenous health systems. Creating an environment that respects and integrates Indigenous cultures is a strategic and moral imperative for National Defence. Department of National Defence. Indigenous [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Government of Canada; 2023–2024 [cited 2026 May 25]. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/proactive-disclosure/nddn-supplementary-estimates-b-2023-2024/background-notes/indigenous.html.

The CMHS serves military personnel within the Regular Force, Class C Reservists, and under certain conditions Class B Reservists. Class A Reservists and Canadian Rangers have more limited access to the CMHS, typically for care related to injuries or illnesses sustained during military duties. Under the Canada Health Act, CAF members are excluded from provincial health insurance responsibility. For this reason, the CMHS is recognized as Canada’s 14th health system, operating separately from the health systems of the ten provinces and three territories.

Prior work “Indigenous Cultural Safety within Mainstream Health Care Systems: A Rapid Review of the Literature and Considerations for Indigenous Canadian Armed Forces Members Assessing Health Care Services” documented large gaps in our knowledge of Indigenous health needs within military contexts, see: Indigenous cultural safety within mainstream health systems. McMaster Health Forum. Indigenous cultural safety within mainstream health systems [Internet]. Hamilton (ON): McMaster University; [date unknown] [cited 2026 May 25]. Available from: https://www.mcmasterforum.org/docs/default-source/product-documents/rapid-responses/indigenous-cultural-safety-within-mainstream-health-systems.pdf.

These gaps extended beyond Canada, with limited publicly available research on the health system experiences on Indigenous military personnels’ experiences within the Australian Defence Force, New Zealand Defence Force, or the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. The military health systems differ between these nations and importantly so too would the experiences of Indigenous military personnel. No published research has examined the experiences of Indigenous peoples within the CMHS, emphasizing the importance of the research that would be produced from this funding opportunity.

Research objectives

This funding opportunity is seeking submissions that utilize original data collection to

  1. Capture and synthesize information on Indigenous personnels’ perspectives on health care received within the Canadian Military Health System.
  2. Identify strengths, gaps, barriers and opportunities for improvement, based on Indigenous military personnel’s views of what works well, what does not, and what could be done differently to better meet their health care needs.

Since it is only through hearing from Indigenous peoples and their experiences with the military health care system that the CAF can make improvements, this funding call seeks submissions that use qualitiative methods (i.e., interviews, qualitative surveys, case studies, etc.).

The study population includes individuals identfiying as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis and who are or were

  • Members of the Regular Force
  • Class C Reservists
  • Class A or Class B Reservists
  • Canadian Rangers

Eligible participants must have had at least one interaction with the CMHS. Individuals who previously served in one of the above roles may also be eligible, provided their interaction with the CMHS occurred within the past five years.

Grant recipients can request assistance with reaching and recruiting Indigenous military personnel. Assistance includes, establishing contact with the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group (see: Defence Advisory Groups - Canada.ca), and other connections, as available.

Desired outputs

  • A research study in the format of a report, including an Executive Summary, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Data analysis, Results, Discussion and References, and the other specifications as described above.
  • Publication of findings in one or more peer-reviewed publications. Any funds needed for publication should be accounted for in the budget.
  • SAGER guidelines followed, with a detailed description of the GBA+ considerations.
  • Virtual presentation of findings to project sponsor (may take place after the project end date).
  • Knowledge translation products for WDH to utilize; and
  • Quarterly progress reports provided to WDH.

Applicant qualifications and requirements

  • Principal investigator on the project must have a PhD, MD or equivalent in a relevant field.
  • Principal Investigator or Co-principal Investigator(s) must have previous experience conducting primary research with Indigenous populations.
  • All appropriate academic research guidelines must be followed, including a research ethics board approval from Defence Research Development Canada (DRDC) or an accredited academic institution in Canada prior to funding being issued if applicable to the method(s) selected.
  • Approval from the Surgeon General Health Research Board is required. A CFHS point of contact will be provided to facilitate this process once the research proposals are selected.
  • All reports, publications, and presentations resulting from this funding opportunity are required to acknowledge that the research was conducted in response to a Funding Opportunity developed and funded by the CFHS WDH.

Application form

Please download and submit the Research Funding Application form.

Applicants are advised to include eight weeks of administrative lead-time in their timelines. This will allow for ethics board submission and approval (if required), and the drafting and signing of the funding agreement.

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