scholarly journals One Indigenous Academic’s Evolution: A Personal Narrative of Native Health Research and Competing Ways of Knowing

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne L. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Health Research ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Native Community ◽  
Research Methodologies ◽  
General Validity ◽  
Native Canadian ◽  
Indigenous Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Health And Healing

Indigenous health research should reflect the needs and benefits of the participants and their community as well as academic and practitioner interests. The research relationship can be viewed as co-constructed by researchers, participants, and communities, but this nature often goes unrecognized because it is confined by the limits of Western epistemology. Dominant Western knowledge systems assume an objective reality or truth that does not support multiple or subjective realities, especially knowledge in which culture or context is important, such as in Indigenous ways of knowing. Alternatives and critiques of the current academic system of research could come from Native conceptualizations and philosophies, such as Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous protocols, which are increasingly becoming more prominent both Native and non-Native societies. This paper contains a narrative account by an Indigenous researcher of her personal experience of the significant events of her doctoral research, which examined the narratives of Native Canadian counselors’ understanding of traditional and contemporary mental health and healing. As a result of this narrative, it is understood that research with Indigenous communities requires a different paradigm than has been historically offered by academic researchers. Research methodologies employed in Native contexts must come from Indigenous values and philosophies for a number of important reasons and with consequences that impact both the practice of research itself and the general validity of research results. In conclusion, Indigenous ways of knowing can form a new basis for understanding contemporary health research with Indigenous peoples and contribute to the evolution of Indigenous academics and research methodologies in both Western academic and Native community contexts.

scholarly journals If We Show Them Will They Come? Attitudes of Native American Youth Towards Higher Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-105
Author(s):  
Emmerentine Oliphant ◽  
Sharon B. Templeman
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Native Community ◽  
Research Methodologies ◽  
General Validity ◽  
Native Canadian ◽  
Indigenous Ways Of Knowing

Indigenous health research should reflect the needs and benefits of the participants and their community as well as academic and practitioner interests. The research relationship can be viewed as co-constructed by researchers, participants, and communities, but this nature often goes unrecognized because it is confined by the limits of Western epistemology. Dominant Western knowledge systems assume an objective reality or truth that does not support multiple or subjective realities, especially knowledge in which culture or context is important, such as in Indigenous ways of knowing. Alternatives and critiques of the current academic system of research could come from Native conceptualizations and philosophies, such as Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous protocols, which are increasingly becoming more prominent both Native and non-Native societies. This paper contains a narrative account by an Indigenous researcher of her personal experience of the significant events of her doctoral research, which examined the narratives of Native Canadian counselors’ understanding of traditional and contemporary mental health and healing. As a result of this narrative, it is understood that research with Indigenous communities requires a different paradigm than has been historically offered by academic researchers. Research methodologies employed in Native contexts must come from Indigenous values and philosophies for a number of important reasons and with consequences that impact both the practice of research itself and the general validity of research results. In conclusion, Indigenous ways of knowing can form a new basis for understanding contemporary health research with Indigenous peoples and contribute to the evolution of Indigenous academics and research methodologies in both Western academic and Native community contexts.

scholarly journals The use of realist approaches for health research in Indigenous communities

2021 ◽  
pp. 117718012199606
Author(s):  
Dave A Bergeron ◽  
Marie-Claude Tremblay ◽  
Maman Joyce Dogba ◽  
Debbie Martin ◽  
Jonathan McGavock
Keyword(s):  
Local Knowledge ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Knowledge Process ◽  
Indigenous Epistemologies ◽  
Indigenous Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Process Oriented

Research approaches and underlying epistemologies should be carefully considered when conducting health research involving Indigenous communities in order to be aligned with the distinct Indigenous values and goals of the communities involved. If Western research approaches are used, it is helpful to consider how they might be consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing. Among Western research approaches, realist approaches might have some congruence with Indigenous epistemologies. For health research in Indigenous communities, realist approaches might be relevant because they are based on a wholistic approach congruent with Indigenous ontologies, anchored in local knowledge, process-oriented and dynamic. The use of these approaches might make it possible to link diverse knowledge systems into action that is meaningful for Indigenous communities.

scholarly journals Highlighting the potential of peer-led workshops in training early career researchers for conducting research with Indigenous communities

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwyneth A. MacMillan ◽  
Marianne Falardeau ◽  
Catherine Girard ◽  
Sophie Dufour-Beauséjour ◽  
Justine Lacombe-Bergeron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Research ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Early Career Researchers ◽  
Indigenous Representation ◽  
Indigenous Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Community Collaborative

For decades, Indigenous voices have called for research practices that are more collaborative and inclusive. At the same time, researchers are becoming aware of the importance of community-collaborative research. However, in Canada, many researchers receive little formal training on how to collaboratively conduct research with Indigenous communities. This is particularly problematic for early-career researchers (ECRs) whose fieldwork often involves interacting with communities. To address this lack of training, two peer-led workshops for Canadian ECRs were organized in 2016 and 2017 with the following objectives: (a) to cultivate awareness about Indigenous cultures, histories and languages; (b) to promote sharing of Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of knowing; and (c) to foster approaches and explore tools for conducting community collaborative research. Here we present these peer-led Intercultural Indigenous Workshops and discuss workshop outcomes according to five themes: scope and interdisciplinarity, Indigenous representation, workshop environment, skillful moderation and workshop outcomes. We show that peer-led workshops are an effective way for ECRs to cultivate cultural awareness, learn about diverse ways of knowing, and share collaborative research tools and approaches. Developing this skill set is important for ECRs aiming to conduct community-collaborative research, however broader efforts are needed to shift toward more inclusive research paradigms in Canada.

scholarly journals PILIRIQATIGIINNIQ ‘Working in a collaborative way for the common good’

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwen Healy ◽  
Andrew Tagak Sr.
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
Health Related Research ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Common

Increasing attention on the Arctic has led to an increase in research in this area. Health research in Arctic Indigenous communities is also increasing as part of this movement. A growing segment of the research community is focused on explaining and understanding Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing. Researchers have become increasingly aware that Indigenous knowledge must be perceived, collected and shared in ways that are unique to, and shaped by, the communities and individuals from which this knowledge is gathered. This paper adds to this body of literature to provide Inuit perspectives on health-related research epistemologies and methodologies, with the intent that it may inform health researchers with an interest in Arctic health. The Inuit concepts of inuuqatigiittiarniq (“being respectful of all people”), unikkaaqatigiinniq (story-telling), pittiarniq (“being kind and good”), and iqqaumaqatigiinniq (“all things coming into one”) and piliriqatigiinniq (“working together for the common good”) are woven into a responsive community health research model grounded in Inuit ways of knowing which is shared and discussed.

scholarly journals Two-Eyed Seeing and developmental origins of health and disease studies with indigenous partners

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Eric N. Liberda ◽  
Aleksandra M. Zuk ◽  
Roger Davey ◽  
Ruby Edwards-Wheesk ◽  
Leonard J. S. Tsuji
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Developmental Origins ◽  
Partnership Model ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Health And Disease

Abstract Globally, mortality of Indigenous persons is greater than that of their non-Indigenous counterparts, which has been shown to be disproportionately attributable to non-communicable diseases. The historically subordinate position that Indigenous Knowledge (IK) held in comparison to Western science has shifted over the last several decades, with the credibility and importance of IK now being internationally recognized. Herein, we examine how Marsahall’s (2014) Two-Eyed Seeing can foster collaborative and culturally relevant Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) studies for health and well-being by using ‘..the best in Indigenous ways of knowing…[and] the best in Western (or mainstream) ways of knowing…and learn to use both these eyes for the benefit of all.’ At its core, Two-Eyed Seeing also includes the principles of ownership, control, access and possession, and Community-Based Participatory Research, which further reinforces the critical role of Indigenous peoples taking active roles in DOHaD research. Additionally, we also present a partnership model for working with Indigenous communities that includes the principles of respect, equity and empowerment. As researchers begin to fill the gap in Indigenous health, we outline how Two-Eyed Seeing should form the basis of DOHaD studies involving Indigenous communities. This model can be used to develop and guide projects that result in robust and meaningful participatory partnerships that have impactful uptake of research findings.

Resisting the “Tyranny of an Expert”

2020 ◽  
pp. 43-60
Author(s):  
Jennifer Adele Morrison ◽  
Jeong-Hee Kim
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Graduate Student ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Engaged Scholarship ◽  
Faculty Mentor ◽  
Indigenous Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Community Engaged Scholarship

As more and more universities push for engaged scholarship following Boyer's mandate, it is paramount that faculty and graduate students consider what community-engaged scholarship means in general as well as what it means to develop as reflexive researchers who are fully-engaged partners in the research process, especially when working with Indigenous communities. The purpose of this chapter is to document how a graduate student works on her Bildung of becoming an engaged scholar, fostered by her faculty mentor. In so doing, the researchers aim to affirm Indigenous ways of knowing and researching and further question what it means to be a community-engaged scholar.

What Contributions, if Any, Can Non-Indigenous Researchers Offer Toward Decolonizing Health Research?

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Krusz ◽  
Tamzyn Davey ◽  
Britta Wigginton ◽  
Nina Hall
Keyword(s):  
Health Research ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Indigenous Australian ◽  
Indigenous Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Indigenous Land ◽  
Health Research Project ◽  
Reflective Processes

Four non-Indigenous academics share lessons learned through our reflective processes while working with Indigenous Australian partners on a health research project. We foregrounded reflexivity in our work to raise consciousness regarding how colonizing mindsets—that do not privilege Indigenous ways of knowing or recognize Indigenous land and sovereignty—exist within ourselves and the institutions within which we operate. We share our self-analyses and invite non-Indigenous colleagues to also consider socialized, unquestioned, and possibly unconscious assumptions about the dominance of Western paradigms, asking what contributions, if any, non-Indigenous researchers can offer toward decolonizing health research. Our processes comprise of three iterative features—prioritizing attempts to decolonize ourselves, acknowledging the necessary role of discomfort in doing so, and moving through nonbinary and toward nondualistic thinking. With a nondual lens, working to decolonize ourselves may itself be seen as one contribution non-Indigenous researchers may offer to the collective project of decolonizing health research.

scholarly journals Science, research and social change in Indigenous health — evolving ways of knowing

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter W Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Research ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Dominant Culture ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Epistemological Framework

History tells us of the overwhelming destructive influence of exotic culture, politics and knowledge forms upon the worldview and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. The power of dominant culture to oppress, control and dominate traditional Indigenous ways of knowing and being has been identified as a being a crucial influence on the health status, future hopes and aspirations of Indigenous Australians. Fundamental to this assertion is that the alienating effect of the belief in and application of the scientific method in relation to learning and knowing is a phenomenon that is incompatible with the law and cultural ways of traditional Indigenous people. The establishment of the Centre of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) is predicated upon and responds to a deep need in our community today to synthesise the ideological and epistemological premises of an increasing range of cultures and world views. It recognises that clinical research, for example, is important to the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but also that the way such research is designed and carried out is also crucial to its potential to effect change in and improve the state of Indigenous health in Australia. This paper examines knowledge principles and processes associated with research in Indigenous communities, explores emerging research trends in science and proposes an epistemological framework for synthesis of traditional approaches with those of the scientific paradigm.

scholarly journals Community engagement approaches for Indigenous health research: recommendations based on an integrative review

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e039736
Author(s):  
Chu Yang Lin ◽  
Adalberto Loyola-Sanchez ◽  
Elaine Boyling ◽  
Cheryl Barnabe
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Indigenous Community ◽  
Integrative Review ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Comprehensive List ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Research Recommendations

ObjectiveCommunity engagement practices in Indigenous health research are promoted as a means of decolonising research, but there is no comprehensive synthesis of approaches in the literature. Our aim was to assemble and qualitatively synthesise a comprehensive list of actionable recommendations to enhance community engagement practices with Indigenous peoples in Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand.DesignIntegrative review of the literature in medical (Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Embase) and Google and WHO databases (search cut-off date 21 July 2020).Article selectionStudies that contained details regarding Indigenous community engagement frameworks, principles or practices in the field of health were included, with exclusion of non-English publications. Two reviewers independently screened the articles in duplicate and reviewed full-text articles.AnalysisRecommendations for community engagement approaches were extracted and thematically synthesised through content analysis.ResultsA total of 63 studies were included in the review, with 1345 individual recommendations extracted. These were synthesised into a list of 37 recommendations for community engagement approaches in Indigenous health research, categorised by stage of research. In addition, activities applicable to all phases of research were identified: partnership and trust building and active reflection.ConclusionsWe provide a comprehensive list of recommendations for Indigenous community engagement approaches in health research. A limitation of this review is that it may not address all aspects applicable to specific Indigenous community settings and contexts. We encourage anyone who does research with Indigenous communities to reflect on their practices, encouraging changes in research processes that are strengths based.

scholarly journals Are we walking the talk of participatory Indigenous health research? A scoping review of the literature in Atlantic Canada

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0255265
Author(s):  
Kathleen Murphy ◽  
Karina Branje ◽  
Tara White ◽  
Ashlee Cunsolo ◽  
Margot Latimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Participatory Research ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Atlantic Canada ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Canada Data

Introduction Participatory research involving community engagement is considered the gold standard in Indigenous health research. However, it is sometimes unclear whether and how Indigenous communities are engaged in research that impacts them, and whether and how engagement is reported. Indigenous health research varies in its degree of community engagement from minimal involvement to being community-directed and led. Research led and directed by Indigenous communities can support reconciliation and reclamation in Canada and globally, however clearer reporting and understandings of community-led research is needed. This scoping review assesses (a) how and to what extent researchers are reporting community engagement in Indigenous health research in Atlantic Canada, and (b) what recommendations exist in the literature regarding participatory and community-led research. Methods Eleven databases were searched using keywords for Indigeneity, geographic regions, health, and Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada between 2001-June 2020. Records were independently screened by two reviewers and were included if they were: peer-reviewed; written in English; health-related; and focused on Atlantic Canada. Data were extracted using a piloted data charting form, and a descriptive and thematic analysis was performed. 211 articles were retained for inclusion. Results Few empirical articles reported community engagement in all aspects of the research process. Most described incorporating community engagement at the project’s onset and/or during data collection; only a few articles explicitly identified as entirely community-directed or led. Results revealed a gap in reported capacity-building for both Indigenous communities and researchers, necessary for holistic community engagement. Also revealed was the need for funding bodies, ethics boards, and peer review processes to better facilitate participatory and community-led Indigenous health research. Conclusion As Indigenous communities continue reclaiming sovereignty over identities and territories, participatory research must involve substantive, agreed-upon involvement of Indigenous communities, with community-directed and led research as the ultimate goal.

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