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5 Indigenous research approach
naturally incorporates community culture, knowledge, worldviews and community- driven framework.
Why is it so important to use Indigenous research to help build capacity in Aboriginal communities? Indigenous research naturally supports Aboriginal community members to “generate and share knowledge” for their immediate and long term benefit. Based in Aboriginal history and traditions, Indigenous research ensures the process and outcomes are driven and owned by the community.
When we began, we conducted over 30 key informant interviews with staff and volunteers of the Friendship Centre and asked dozens
of community partners about their vision for the project and their views about appropriate “research methods,” ethics protocols and potential outcomes.
We then developed a research agenda and work plan that would use a wide range of methods: symbol-based analysis, sharing circles, interviews, voice-box analysis, focus groups, and story-telling. Our community shaped our research agenda by answering questions, and in doing so, ensured the project reflected their voices and vision. When we asked, What is research? Our community members responded clearly: “Research is a way to gather knowledge on problems facing the community and then find solutions.”
Even with careful consultation and planning, questions and concerns arose throughout. Constantly checking in with participants helped to uncover issues related to how we proceeded. Should all activities reflect traditional ways? Is talking about people’s experiences while we cook together actually doing research? Why give tobacco? Is it okay to audio-record or write down what Elders say? What happens to the records?
For guidance, we followed the USAI Research Framework, an approach specifically created for use in urban Aboriginal communities by the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship
Patricia Sutherland (L), mother, Grandmother, beader, and residential school survivor, standing with her daughter Dawn Lamothe (R), Associate Researcher.
Centres, one of our key funders and supporters. Having carried out community-driven research for much of its history, OFIFC created a framework acknowledging that “...research, knowledge, and practice are authored by communities, which
are fully recognized as knowledge holders and knowledge creators” (p. 9). USAI highlights are available in Appendix C.
USAI also guided our work and relationships with project partners. Together we learned that having tea with an Elder is a valid way of seeking knowledge, that offering tobacco is a valid way of ethically obtaining consent from participants, and that activities like cooking, drum-making and medicine walks are appropriate contexts for exploring research questions.
Please read Dawn’s story, “Work is Ceremony and Ceremony is Work.”
Walking the Red Road | REPORT OF THE URBAN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES THRIVE PROJECT | 30