草莓污视频导航

June 2, 2020

Research leaders at 草莓污视频导航 deepen their understanding of Indigenous approaches to scholarship

Intercultural Capacity Building Grant supports training for ethics staff and board members
Smudging is part of approaching ceremonies, events, gatherings, and research in a good way鈥攑hoto by Colleen De Neve.
Smudging is part of approaching ceremonies, events, gatherings, and research in a good way鈥攑hoto by Coleen De Neve

For Dr. Jenny Godley, Ph.D, associate professor in the Department of Sociology聽and current chair of 草莓污视频导航鈥檚 Conjoint Faculty Research Ethics Board (CFREB), and Kate Williams, manager, research ethics and compliance in research services, receiving a ii鈥 taa鈥檖oh鈥檛o鈥檖 Intercultural Capacity Building Grant in 2019 meant they could bring much-needed training on Indigenous research processes and data dissemination to the ethics unit.

  • Photo above:聽Smudging is part of approaching ceremonies, events, gatherings, and research in a good way.聽Photo by Colleen De Neve, for the 草莓污视频导航

Becoming aware of how research affects Indigenous communities and learning about Indigenous ethics is imperative to ensuring that research-intensive institutions like 草莓污视频导航 are addressing reconciliation and transformation in a useful, productive, and meaningful way. 草莓污视频导航's Indigenous Strategy, ii鈥 taa鈥檖oh鈥檛o鈥檖, encourages researchers working with Indigenous groups to rethink how information is gathered, such as through Indigenous knowledge keepers, storytelling and oral traditions, and how research is disseminated.

Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession

Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) is an Indigenous-based research ethics guideline document. Online OCAP聽training is now available for researchers, focusing on how research processes that impact and involve Indigenous communities should be conducted through a framework of traditional cultural knowledge. The OCAP聽training is developed in partnership with Algonquin College and consists of learning modules such as Community Harm,聽and Barriers and Levers,聽and includes testing prep and a final exam.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission鈥檚 94 Calls to Action lay the foundations for genuine decolonization and Indigenization in Canada

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission鈥檚 94 Calls to Action lay the foundations for genuine decolonization and Indigenization in Canada

Colleen De Neve

Godley and Williams know that, historically, institutions have had a very rigid Eurocentric way of approaching ethics. Therefore, the Intercultural Capacity Building Grant is being applied to strengthen awareness of Indigenous research methodologies and ethics by offering OCAP聽training to ethics board members and staff.

鈥淭he training provides an important foundation as we evolve to better support Indigenous research,鈥 says Williams.

Before the Intercultural Capacity Building Grant was even on the radar, the CFREB had already been in discussions with Indigenous representatives and taking initiatives to learn about research ethics through an Indigenous lens. When Godley heard about the grant through the Office of the Vice-Provost (Indigenous Engagement) she immediately contacted Williams about applying for the grant to provide OCAP聽training for ethics staff and board members.

One of the distinctions between traditional research ethics and Indigenous research ethics is that Indigenous research begins with first building relationships with the leaders and members of the community. 鈥淓arly relationship development is rarely considered in ethics applications,鈥 says Godley.

We are only slightly aware of the harm to Indigenous communities and individuals that some research has caused.

Godley adds, 鈥淲e were already concerned over the lack of familiarity with OCAP on the board and when news of the grant arrived, we applied to provide the training to staff and board members.鈥

So far, about 30 individuals, both staff and ethics board members, have registered for OCAP聽training made available and supported by the university鈥檚 ii鈥 taa鈥檖oh鈥檛o鈥檖 Intercultural Capacity Building Grant, which has opened new professional development opportunities as trainees take OCAP聽into other areas of research and reconsider how research gets done.

Apply for an Intercultural Capacity Building Grant by June 15

Do you have a project that contributes to Indigenization at 草莓污视频导航? The Intercultural Capacity Building Grant applications are open to students, faculty, and staff, and are due on June 15.