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Queen’s researchers (Emergency Medicine) and Sam McKegney (English Literature and Creative Writing) have been awarded nearly $5 million through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) competition to address humanitarian abuse and Indigenous experiences in hockey.

The funding, which will be distributed over seven years, is part of a in research announced by the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry. The Queen’s projects are among 19 research initiatives to receive funding through the SSHRC Partnership Grants, which awarded more than $42 million to support large-scale, collaborative projects across Canada.

Partnership Grants support new and existing formal partnerships to advance research, research training, or knowledge mobilization in the social sciences and humanities. The selection of these two projects highlights the strength of research taking place across disciplines and communities at the university.

Addressing sexual exploitation in humanitarian crises

Responder-Perpetrated Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises – A Partnership for Accountability and Change (RESPONDER Partnership)

Dr. Bartels has been awarded $2,499,595 to investigate responder-perpetrated sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian settings. This form of abuse, involving United Nations peacekeepers and humanitarian workers, often goes unreported, leaving communities without meaningful paths to justice.

The research focuses on six countries with a history of humanitarian and UN intervention: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Kosovo, Lebanon, and Haiti. Co-directed by Dr. Bartels and Dr. Sabine Lee (University of Birmingham, UK), the project brings together an international network of scholars based in Canada, Germany, and several of the study regions. It will also benefit from the expertise and support of civil society partners across the six focus countries and Geneva. Using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, including respondent-driven sampling and population size estimation, the project aims to generate reliable estimates of the number of people affected, examine how communities perceive the risks and benefits of reporting abuse, and explore alternative approaches to accountability and reparative justice.

“When abuse is committed by those tasked with providing aid and protection, the systems of accountability are deeply challenged,” said Dr. Bartels. “Our work seeks to understand the scale and impact of this harm, and to explore justice approaches that reflect the needs of survivors.”

The project will also examine the distinct experiences of women and girls, men and boys, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals. The findings will help shape more inclusive policies and programs across the United Nations, governments, and civil society organizations.

Supporting Indigenous leadership in hockey research 

Dr. McKegney is receiving $2,500,000 to co-direct the Indigenous Hockey Research Network (IHRN), a national partnership that supports Indigenous-led research on hockey’s role in community, identity, and self-determination.

The project connects Indigenous scholars, players, knowledge keepers, and community organizations to explore the complexities of hockey in Indigenous life, including its potential to both uplift and harm. The IHRN embraces this complexity and works alongside Indigenous partners to pursue change by challenging structural racism in hockey systems, supporting individual athletes and advocates, and reshaping how data and knowledge are collected and shared.

“Indigenous voices have long been excluded from conversations about identity, sport, and belonging,” said Dr. McKegney, “This partnership creates space for Indigenous-led research that engages communities directly and shares knowledge in ways that are meaningful to them.”

The IHRN will create a range of materials for different audiences including educational resources for schools, athletes and coaches, public-facing content such as documentary films, newspaper articles and podcasts, as well as reports, calls to action, policy initiatives and scholarly publications. By creating space for Indigenous voices and research methodologies, the partnership will support ongoing efforts to transform sport into a site of empowerment and cultural resurgence.

SSHRC Partnership Grants

SSHRC is one of Canada’s three federal research funding agencies, alongside the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). SSHRC promotes and supports research and training in the social sciences and humanities.

The Partnership Grants fund large-scale, formal collaborations between researchers and partner organizations across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. These multi-year projects are designed to address challenges and create meaningful social, cultural, and economic impact.

The newly funded initiatives led by Drs. Bartels and McKegney join a growing portfolio of SSHRC Partnership Grants led by Queen’s researchers. The university now holds five active Partnership Grants addressing critical issues through long-term collaboration with community, government, and nonprofit partners: 

• Heather Aldersey (School of Rehabilitation Therapy) is leading a project focused on understanding and strengthening natural support systems for people with disabilities by learning from global models of care.
• Amy Latimer-Cheung (School of Kinesiology and Health Studies) is developing and sharing evidence-based strategies to create quality sport, exercise, and play experiences for Canadians with physical, intellectual, and sensory disabilities. Her team includes researchers and partners from numerous universities and national organizations dedicated to increasing participation and inclusion across all age groups.
• Heidi Cramm (School of Rehabilitation Therapy) and Alyson Mahar (Nursing) are leading a national initiative to build a more inclusive and equitable research ecosystem for military, veteran, and public safety families. Their work aims to identify service gaps, inform policy, and strengthen supports that reflect the unique challenges these families face.

To learn more about other research at Queen’s funded as part of this announcement, read “More than $20 million awarded to advance Queen’s research” in the Gazette.