In the fall of 2005, CAAN started to reflect on how it was doing research.

The thinking was the organization might benefit from having one group to advise on the research work of the organization. Those invited would:

  • know and understand CBR;
  • know and understand research processes;
  • bring equal representation from the academy and from the community; and
  • know and understand research ethics boards and how they operate.

CAAN created the National Research Advisory Committee (NRAC). This committee was funded through the CIHR Community-Based Research Facilitator grants, which eventually transitioned to the Aboriginal HIV and AIDS Community-Based Research Collaborative Centre (AHA Centre). With that transition came a name change – National Aboriginal Research Advisory Committee (NARAC).