Questions Aimed at Researchers | Observations and Lessons Learned |
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Why don’t researchers collaborate on research studies more often? | • Incorporating capacity building helps to facilitate intergenerational success. • Research partnerships with community can offer capacity building opportunities for community members and researchers alike. • Leadership from community is needed to establish standards for co-facilitated studies. |
Whose research is it? | • Indigenous community and researchers must discuss and be transparent about who benefits and how research process and findings will be shared. • How Indigenous people and communities are portrayed is very important. Elders and other Indigenous counsellors must be involved to ensure that representations and descriptions of people and culture are appropriate. • Research should be strengths-based. A problem-based approach with a focus on negatives and challenges, is not helpful. |
Why aren’t researchers taking time to understand how the present reality is connected to our history? | • Researchers must take time to learn the history of Indigenous people/communities. • Knowing history can put current realities into context. • Researchers need to participate in community events and invite community members to be part of research events, to honour one another’s ways. |
Why aren’t researchers interested in having a long- term relationships with us? | • Indigenous people trust researchers that demonstrate that they genuinely care about the (Indigenous) community, sustained over time. • Researchers that genuinely care are interested in getting to know the specific Indigenous community, what the community has been through, and know how to be respectful. |