Working Across Contexts: Practical Considerations of Doing Indigenist/Anti-Colonial Research

Abstract

Although Indigenous scholars have been documenting Indigenous research methodologies, little has been written on the practical considerations of doing research across Indigenous/Settler contexts. As a small social work research team (two Cree researchers and one Settler) exploring Indigenous aging, our work crossed several contexts: academic and community, social locations within the team, and epistemes. Centering the research on an Indigenist, anti-colonial framework allowed us to highlight and correct for colonial power dynamics throughout the project. By enacting Indigenism together, we found that Indigenous and Settler researchers can create a space of deep learning and knowledge co-creation with communities. However, this work was challenging, risky, and at times difficult. Learning to navigate some of these complexities required ongoing attention to our relational accountabilities. We detail lessons learned from each of our perspectives, concluding with implications, community obligations, and directions for future research.

Teaching about Decoloniality: The Experience of Non‐Indigenous Social Work Educators

“…) identifies some examples we consider fall within critical , constructionist , and interpersonal theoretical positions. While we acknowledge that the critical and constructivist labels come from a western scholarship, and that descriptors from varied Indigenous scholarship representing many Indigenous nations and their knowledges may not so readily label them as such, we do find Indigenous social work scholars aligning themselves with these positions (Davis, Denis, & Sinclair, ; Greaves, ; M. A. Hart, Straka, & Rowe, ; Hollis‐English, ). We also find many examples of Indigenous interpersonal explanatory theories, ranging from descriptors of healing (Nabigon & Mawhiney, ), bio‐psycho‐social counseling (Bowers, ), therapy (Hodge, Limb, & Cross, ), and helping or minopinitisiwin (Hart, ).…”

Power and politics in research design and practice: Opening up space for social equity in interdisciplinary, multi-jurisdictional and community-based research

“…Opening up space requires a research framework that, from the start, is designed with time and space to accommodate such influence (Hanson & Ogunade 2016;Hart, Straka & Rowe 2016). This forethought sets the tone from a project's onset for genuine and more equitable collaboration, allowing information to flow in multiple directions.…”

Becoming an ally: Intersections of indigenous worldviews and clinical social work practices within Carrier Sekani Family Services.

“…Through the processes of colonization, Indigenous peoples have been unable to exercise self-determination and self-governance while their lives and territories have been violently oppressed (Hart, Straka, & Rowe, 2017). According to Hart et al (2017), anti-colonialism aims to correct this ongoing oppression by involving all groups that are part of colonial relationships, including colonizer and colonized. Settlers can work in anti-colonial ways by educating members of their own group, challenging colonial oppression, and supporting Indigenous peoples in acts of self-determination (Hart et al, 2017).…”

“…According to Hart et al (2017), anti-colonialism aims to correct this ongoing oppression by involving all groups that are part of colonial relationships, including colonizer and colonized. Settlers can work in anti-colonial ways by educating members of their own group, challenging colonial oppression, and supporting Indigenous peoples in acts of self-determination (Hart et al, 2017). However, Hart et al (2017) state that in order to be anticolonial, Settlers must ensure that their actions do not reproduce colonial oppression, support Indigenous people's self-determination, and always allow Indigenous peoples to determine what is defined as anti-colonial action.…”

“…Settlers can work in anti-colonial ways by educating members of their own group, challenging colonial oppression, and supporting Indigenous peoples in acts of self-determination (Hart et al, 2017). However, Hart et al (2017) state that in order to be anticolonial, Settlers must ensure that their actions do not reproduce colonial oppression, support Indigenous people's self-determination, and always allow Indigenous peoples to determine what is defined as anti-colonial action. Anti-colonial members of both groups can work together to challenge the operations of colonialism in political, economic, and cultural institutions, and social systems (Hart et al, 2017).…”