The Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network, the UAKN, is a network of community organizations, universities and government organizations in four regions across Canada. The UAKN addresses the knowledge gap in urban Aboriginal research by establishing a national, interdisciplinary network involving universities, community, and government partners for research, scholarship and knowledge mobilization. The
UAKN consists of scholars representing a variety of disciplines from across Canada and a number of organizations that provide services to urban Aboriginal peoples. The network has been established on a model of partnership in the co-creation of knowledge since its inception in 2007. The UAKN involves Aboriginal communities, under the lead of the National Association of Friendship Centres, which plays a central role in the network.With a strong focus on combining both research and inclusive knowledge mobilization through the process of community led research, the UAKN intends to ensure that the benefits of Aboriginal research begin with Aboriginal communities and ends with an improved quality of life of urban Aboriginal peoples. It is one intention of the UAKN to support and contribute to reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians through this work. The UAKN requires four sets of related expertise, which are 1) community driven research expertise; 2) knowledge of local community structures; 3) administration of networks and grants processes, politics and government policy; and 4) program development, formulation, development and evaluation. Each set will bring its own expertise and stakeholders to the process.
