Scholars Advisory Circle Terms of Reference.

About Luminary & the Strategic Science Fund  

Luminary is the name of an initiative developed by Indigenous Works in 2019/20 to advance a 5–10-year strategy for Indigenous innovation as a catalyst for economic transformation, employment, and well-being. In 2020, just over 150 Luminary Charter Partners (LCPs) signed onto a planning initiative to affirm the issues and secure their commitment to participate in co-creating a strategy to address barriers, build new systems and redesign the Indigenous research and innovation ecosystem. The Luminary Strategy was completed in 2021.

The Need

The Luminary strategy is responding to two issues which are constraining Indigenous prosperity.

1. A significant gap currently exists between post-secondary institutions, business schools, research institutions, and the Indigenous community, and the systemic barriers to growing Indigenous-led research and business talent.(
2. ii) Indigenous communities lack the means to mobilize new research knowledge and innovate new products, services and value creation, which can grow and transform Indigenous economies. Research and innovation investments not only lead to stronger business and industry competitiveness, but they also enable new product and market expansions and create jobs.

Vision and Mission

Luminary’s vision is to advance a new Indigenous economic innovation ecosystem to transform economies, employment and well-being. Its mission is to convene, coordinate, and facilitate a network of academic researchers, business schools, Indigenous businesses, mainstream businesses and NGOs to foster and grow new knowledge networks, talent and research collaborations to increase economic innovation in Canada and abroad.

The 2024 Strategic Science Fund Award from Innovation, Science & Economic Development

In 2024, Luminary was awarded $4.0M for five years (2024-2029) from ISED’s new Strategic Science Fund, the only Indigenous initiative to be selected along with 23 other successful projects. Luminary is addressing the economic innovation and engagement gaps by supporting, facilitating and coordinating efforts among the academic community (including business schools, agriculture, engineering and others), the Indigenous business community, research agencies and NGOs to commercial innovation, Indigenous-led research collaborations and foster a new indigenous innovation ecosystem that will transform economies, jobs and communities.

Supported by the Strategic Science Fund award, Luminary is inviting partners from foundations, the private sector and the academic community to support several transformative programs and projects that blend traditional and Western knowledge to address national and global challenges with a new Indigenous research and innovation strategy. To guide Luminary’s future, three advisory bodies have been created: The National Indigenous Innovation Advisory Circle (NIIAC), Luminary International Indigenous Innovation Advisory Council and the Indigenous Innovation Scholars Advisory Circle . 

Terms of Reference Articles

1. Purpose of the Luminary Indigenous Innovation Scholars Advisory

The Indigenous Innovation Scholars Advisory Circle (IISAC) provides strategic guidance, culturally grounded perspectives, and expert advice to advance Indigenous innovation through interdisciplinary approaches. IISAC supports Luminary’s efforts by offering insights on research protocols, curriculum development, policy frameworks, and Indigenous innovation strategies. Members will help ensure that all initiatives are grounded in Indigenous values, knowledge systems, and priorities for community and economic well-being.

2. Guiding Indigenous Principles, Values and Teachings

1. Relationality: All innovation is situated within relationships — among people, the land, and the spiritual world — Innovation practices must recognize the land as a living system of knowledge.
2. Responsibility: Members are accountable to future generations and are stewards of cultural and ecological sustainability, knowledge and practices.
3. Reciprocity and Balance: Partnerships must reflect mutual benefit, equity, and ethical exchange.
4. Elders and Intergenerational Wisdom: The inclusion of Elders and youth ensures that knowledge is both inherited and renewed.
5. Wholism: We approach innovation and well-being through an integrated lens — spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and physical.
6. Story as Knowledge: Narratives, oral traditions, and lived experience are central to how we understand, evaluate, and shape innovation.
7. Consent and Self-Determination: Indigenous Peoples have the right to define, lead, and govern their innovation pathways.
8. Time as Cyclical: We acknowledge the cyclical nature of time — innovation must honour past, present, and future wisdom.

3. Member Roles

1. Act as Ambassadors: Represent and promote Luminary’s Indigenous innovation priorities within regional, national, and global networks.
2. Engage Actively: Participate meaningfully in quarterly virtual meetings. Where feasible, attend in-person meetings aligned with national conferences or Indigenous gatherings.
3.  Provide Strategic Guidance: Offer expert advice on Luminary initiatives, including research protocols, curriculum development, and Indigenous innovation frameworks.
4. Affirm Key Documents: Review and provide feedback on strategic models, frameworks, and draft documents developed by Luminary, helping to ensure alignment with Indigenous values and worldviews.
5. Contribute to Knowledge Sharing: Participate in Luminary’s webinars, podcasts, and summits as speakers, interviewees, or advisors. Support outreach through academic forums, professional networks, and social media.
6. Promote Indigenous Worldviews: Uphold and advocate for Indigenous approaches to innovation, including principles of relationality, reciprocity, Indigegogy, and two-eyed seeing.
7. Identify Capacity Needs: Highlight areas where deeper research or consulting is required and advise on potential scopes of work. Members may also be eligible to contribute through paid roles where appropriate.

4. Objectives of the IISAC

The primary objectives of the IISAC are to:

• Support and provide direction on the new national Indigenous business student networks, as well as research graduate student networks and opportunities.  
• Provide expert advice on Indigenous innovation initiatives, frameworks, and strategies.
• The opportunity to participate in knowledge-sharing opportunities, such as webinars, podcasts, or the Indigenous Innovation Summit.
• Foster networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among Indigenous scholars across various disciplines.
• Support the development of curriculum, policy, research, and consulting activities that align with Indigenous knowledge systems.
• Strengthen partnerships across academic institutions, business schools, Indigenous organizations, and policymakers to advance research and innovation.
• Promote the active participation of business schools globally in initiatives such as the Business School Indigenous Engagement Survey.
• Providing advice and insights on current and new policy platforms, concepts, issues and recommendations
• Foster intergenerational leadership and cross-cultural collaborations.
• Engage allies (non-Indigenous scholars and practitioners) in respectful partnerships and ensure their roles complement Indigenous-led innovation.

5. Meetings and Participation

• Members will participate in virtual meetings three times per year. Total time commitment, including meeting preparation, is approximately 8–10 hours annually.
• Provide expert advice on policy platforms, curriculum development, research priorities, and emerging issues within Indigenous innovation ecosystems.
• Participate in webinars, podcasts, and the Indigenous Innovation Summit, when possible.
• Contribute to the co-creation and review of research protocols, curriculum frameworks, and broader programmatic content.
• Engage in the development of an Indigenous innovation agenda to enhance the well-being of communities and ecosystems.
• Amplify Indigenous knowledge, scholarship, and leadership through knowledgemobilization and advocacy efforts.

5.2 Meeting Governance

• Leadership: The group will be led by a Chair, who will be the Senior Research Lead from Luminary.
• The decision-making process will be collaborative and based on consensus, where possible. If consensus cannot be reached, voting may be used as a final decision-making tool.
• The decision-making process will emphasize inclusive collaboration, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.

6. Membership

The IISAC will consist of approximately 12 Indigenous scholars who are either currently enrolled in a doctoral program or have completed a doctoral degree. Members will represent a diversity of Nations, regions, and disciplinary backgrounds, bringing lived experience and academic expertise in Indigenous innovation (e.g., health, agriculture, business, clean energy, and related fields).

Members may include:

• Doctoral candidates focused on Indigenous innovation Indigenous scholars holding completed doctoral degrees

6.1 Remuneration

Luminary recognizes and respects the time, knowledge, and expertise of IISAC members. While participation in the Circle is voluntary, there may be opportunities for members to receive honoraria for specific contributions, such as:

• Reviewing key documents or providing detailed written feedback that exceeds regular advisory participation
• Contributing to curriculum or case study development
• Supporting research protocols or strategy design that exceeds regular advisory participation

Where such contributions arise, Luminary will offer fair and transparent compensation in accordance with organizational policy. Members are also eligible to be considered for paid consulting or research roles as needed.

7. Confidentiality

IISAC members may have access to confidential or proprietary information. Members are expected to maintain confidentiality as appropriate and by a confidentiality agreement, if applicable.

8. Review

These Terms of Reference will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect Luminary’s evolving mandate and global context.

9. Reporting and Impact

Recommendations from the Advisory Circle will inform Luminary’s strategy, partnerships, and program strategies. A summary of outcomes will be published in Luminary’s Annual Report.

If you are interested in applying