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Table 1 True versus token collaboration

From: Fostering the conduct of ethical and equitable research practices: the imperative for integrated knowledge translation in research conducted by and with indigenous community members

Questions Aimed at Researchers

Observations and Lessons Learned

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.