The CEO of Johnston Research

Ahneen, Andrea L.K. Johnston nindizhinikaaz. I started  Johnston Research Inc. in 2001. Neyaashiinigmiing ndojeba, Toronto ndindaa.  Mikinaak dodem. I have been working full-time in the field of Indigenous evaluation for over 20 years. I believe strongly in the reconciliation between Indigenous and Western thought in the field of evaluation. This is what drives my work as an evaluator – striving to find better ways to document the  truth. As a trainer in Indigenous evaluation I seek to share knowledge. My view is that we are born as unbiased evaluators; however we need help as adults to re-learn how to wear an unbiased lens that will lead us to the truth in our work as evaluators. This logic leads me to believe that evaluative thinking can be taught.  

The traditional name of my ancestral territory means body of land that sticks out into a large body of water. My family is located on the Bruce Peninsula, about halfway up on the east-side nestled between Georgian Bay and dolomite limestone escarpment cliffs.

I was born and raised in the Native community of Toronto, am a little beaver graduate, and was trained and mentored as an evaluator for six years in my youth within the Native community of Toronto.

Supported by the Native
and Evaluation Communities.

Both the Toronto Native community and the Canadian Evaluation Society supported the growth and development of Johnston Research Inc. In 2005, Andrea L.K. Johnston won the Young Aboriginal Business Award, sponsored by Royal Bank. In 2010 CES recognized Johnston Research for contributions to the field of evaluation with the honour of the Ontario Chapter, Canadian Evaluation Society’s Excellence in Evaluation Award.  In 2011, Andrea L.K. Johnston was recognized as a Credentialed Evaluator by CES.

Giving Back

Johnston Research is proud to give back to the evaluation community by sharing our insights and discoveries through writing. We have written several articles and are currently in the process of publishing another for the New Directions in Evaluation (NDE) volume on Indigenous Evaluation (2017). Our articles include:

  1. Using Technology to Enhance Aboriginal Evaluations, 2010, Canadian Journal of Evaluation.
  2. To Case Study or Not to Case Study: Our Experience…as an Evaluation Methodology for First Nations Programs, 2013, Canadian Journal of Evaluation.
  3. Aboriginal Ways of Knowing: Aboriginal-led Evaluation, Guest Editor’s Introduction, 2010, Canadian Journal of Evaluation.
  4. Tending the Fire Program Model, a theory of change with cyclical learning at each stage, featured in the book by Funnel, S. and Rodgers, P. (2011).  Purposeful Program Theory: Effective Use of Theories of Change and Logic Models, John-Wiley and Sons.
  5. Ways Tried and True: Canadian Indigenous Evaluation in the 21st Century, to be published in the New Directions in Evaluation volume on Indigenous Evaluation.

We also sponsor the NaMeRes annual pow wow, Maanjidowin gathering, book workshops at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, and serve as a member of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business.

RECENT PROJECTS / VIEW ALL OUR PROJECTS

  • Evaluation of Agency Governance, Management, and Service Delivery

    Client: Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services Inc.

    Topic: Governance

    Type: Evaluation

    Date: 2016

    Description: Building on the 2013 Evaluation Framework JRI developed, this evaluation focused on measuring achievement of benchmarks and standards, as defined in the framework through on-site document review, staff and management interviews, and secondary literature review.

  • Evaluation of Phase 3 of the First Nation – Municipal Community Infrastructure Partnership Program

    Client: Federation of Canadian Municipalities

    Topic: Economic Development

    Type: Evaluation

    Date: 2016

    Description: This summative evaluation encompasses the 2014 – 2016 fiscal year expenditures for the First Nation – Municipal Community Infrastructure Partnership Program (CIPP).

  • Evaluation Services to Assess the Joint Working Group on Violence Against Aboriginal Women and Girls

    Client: Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs

    Topic: Violence

    Type: Evaluation

    Date: 2015

    Description: This evaluation focused primarily on the governance model and its functionality as well as relevance and effectiveness.

“

The JRI team are highly professional and ethical. The project lead, Andrea L. K. Johnston is well grounded in her culture, and this is an advantage in working with Aboriginal communities. The JRI Team is cooperative, well-informed and a pleasure to work with.

Brian DokisExecutive Director, Southern Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre
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This project’s success has depended upon the collaboration and participation that you have so freely given – your ideas, input, and enthusiasm were most helpful.

Nina JethaManager, Canadian Best Practices Initiative
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Successfully liaising with project representatives, often at very senior levels, on the sensitive topic of family violence, Johnston Research Inc. demonstrated its ability to organize, provide consistent messaging and interpret that information and apply it to funding formulas and allocation methodologies that have proven to meet the operational needs of the program.

ManagerFamily Violence Prevention Program & Justice Issues, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
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Johnston Research Inc. trained interviewers, assessed results, implemented a program evaluation and provided ongoing consultations with our office staff and the Evaluation Committee within the project timeline and with positive feedback from the communities regarding the excellent work completed by the evaluation consultants.

Marilyn PettisRegional Manager, Ka:nen Our Children Our Future
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Our timelines for this project were rather short (2 months); however Johnston Research Inc. undertook two northern site visits, a series of telephone interviews, and produced a final report on-time. The evaluators conducted themselves in a very professional manner throughout the process; in addition to being very flexible in order to get the job done.

ManagerHuman Resources and Skills Development Canada

We can tackle projects of any budget! Let us know we can help!

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