Wongi mi bardup (doing it our way)

Abstract

The Birthing on Noongar Boodjar project investigated the cultural birthing practices of Aboriginal women living on country (Noongar Boodjar) in an urbanised environment; and their experiences of interactions with maternal health care providers (especially midwives). The evidence from the five year study identified changes required in health systems to adequately support Aboriginal women and their families during the significant cultural and life event of childbearing. 
 This paper sets out the methodological and theoretical considerations which framed how the Birthing on Noongar Boodjar project was conducted by the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal investigators. We provide a brief project background before describing the Indigenous research methodologies and practices crucial to exploring the research questions, collecting data in culturally secure ways and using cultural lenses to analyze and interpret the data. The study design and results are reported in other publications.

Developing culturally relevant and collaborative research approaches: A case study of working with remote and regional Aboriginal students to prepare them for life beyond school

“…Of particular importance is that it is a dialogic approach to data collection, where building relationships is at the core of gaining knowledge, hence making storying participatory (Little Bear, 2000). For the storyteller, some describe the experience as being empowered (Blodgett et al, 2011;Marriott et al, 2019). This occurs alongside the imperative for the audience to be respectful through the use of yarning and deep or involved listening that allows for strong connections to be made (Shay, 2019).…”

“…Stories have taken the shape of a narrative, as well as a "visual; symbols, song and prayer" (Kovach, 2009, p. 95). The literature describes how stories have been represented in exhibitions, documentaries, oral histories, and art collages (Marriott et al, 2019). These different modes not only present stories but also engage both participants and audience, which in turn increases the impact of the stories.…”

“Weaving a Mat That We Can All Sit On”: Qualitative Research Approaches for Productive Dialogue in the Intercultural Space

“…Through critical reflection and immersive, experiential learning, we identified how Western research methods could be aligned to Yolŋu concepts and applied in a research context. That is, as Marriot et al [ 56 ] recommend, while keeping First Nations ways of knowing central, they also can be productively connected with Western epistemologies. Thus, each of the three Yolŋu concepts is described first in a broader more theoretical context and positioning in terms of First Nations research approaches, and then examples are given that demonstrate how Western research methods might be considered in alignment.…”

“…As decolonising researchers, we recognise that First Nations assumptions and perspectives and mainstream research methodologies are not mutually exclusive and can be used effectively to complement and support each other ([ 57 ], p. 2). For the future, we see the learnings reported here as guiding a process of acknowledging and merging different knowledge systems through well-articulated and respectful consideration ([ 56 ], p. 5).…”

“…Until now, Nhina, nhäma ga ŋäma has not been documented as an Aboriginal research method. Building on the concept of dadirri , initially articulated in English by Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann (2002), a respected elder and artist from the Daly River region of the NT, it is increasingly referenced as a method of deep listening for action [ 2 , 56 , 66 ]. Taking dadirri as a starting point ‘expands the researcher’s worldview and opens our ears to other Aboriginal epistemologies and how we might engage with them in respectful and ethical ways’ ([ 66 ], p. 228).…”