Fish-WIKS News

Article prepared and submitted by Nicole Latulippe, PhD student at University of Toronto and Fish-WIKS Scholarship recipient.)

Respect, reciprocity, and relationality – the 3 R’s – characterize ethical research with Indigenous peoples.[1] They call for methods that build respectful relationships between the researcher, topic, research participants, and ideas generated. The 3 R’s also require that researchers fulfill their responsibilities and give back to these relationships so that sharing, growth, and learning are reciprocal.

The Inland team spent time at their November regional meeting discussing appropriate research conduct. PhD student Nicole Latulippe is moving closer to the research stage and the team is considering the principles, values, and practices of ethical research relationships.

Ethical and rigorous research confronts the colonial legacy of harmful research practice. It is designed in partnership with research participants to benefit the community. Cultural sensitivity, ongoing community engagement, respect for Indigenous knowledge, informed consent, and the transfer of skills are some key components.

A wealth of resources now exists at national, regional, and community levels. The Chiefs of Ontario Environmental Assessment Toolkit draws attention to international agreements that protect traditional knowledge. The Assembly of First Nations champions the OCAP principles – ownership, control, access, and possession of information – to ensure self-determination over research concerning First Nations.[2] Meanwhile, community codes of research ethics, research agreements between research partners, and data-sharing protocols are tools that help to mitigate potential risk and harm.[3]

The Inland team looks forward to exploring the options available for ethical research protocol with Nipissing First Nation.

[1] Weber-Pillwax, C.  (2001)  “What is Indigenous Research?”  Canadian Journal of Native Education  25(2):  166 – 174.

[2] Assembly of First Nations (2009) Ethics in First Nations Research.

[3] First Nations Centre (2007) Considerations and Templates for Ethical Research Practices. Ottawa: National Aboriginal Health Organization.