First Peoples and Research Methods: Practice, Collaboration and Ethics

This course centres on how and why Indigenous research is different and important. It is suitable for students without any prior knowledge. It is a practical, introductory research course that introduces students to the principles of Indigenous research: practices, collaboration and ethics. This course is suitable for students who are considering working in Indigenous policy, organisations and research contexts. This course provides practical lessons about what constitutes good research practice and how to engage ethically in Indigenous spaces. It facilitates more respectful and meaningful engagement with (and between) Indigenous peoples, knowledges and ways of knowing and greater insight into the relevance of Indigenous perspectives in every sphere of knowledge and practice. Students are introduced to Indigenous perspectives about ways of doing Indigenous research. This includes developing knowledge about relationship building and how to undertake Indigenous research in a safe and ethical manner in accordance with Indigenous protocols. Students learn about the history of and developments in Indigenous research and how Indigenous knowledges and methodologies have challenged and changed Indigenous research practices within and outside academia. Students will be introduced to aspects of research design and practice, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method approaches for engaging in Indigenous research, including what is the difference, and what are the similarities, between indigenous and general research methods (including traditional and de-colonised methods). Students will also learn about the nuances and distinctions in ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ and even ‘outsider/insider’ researcher identities and understanding how and in what context each of the researcher’s identity is appropriate. Like other courses in Indigenous studies, this course ‘de-centres’ Western knowledge, theories and methodology, and disrupts Western perspectives on Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing. The course will be taught by Indigenous scholars and professionals who are experts in these areas, with non-Indigenous academics experienced in applying qualitative and quantitative methods to Indigenous research playing an active role in the course delivery.