Indigenous Research Ethics

The Indigenous Research Ethics research theme explores the dynamic intersection of policies, procedures, practices, and philosophies of contemporary Indigenous research ethics.

IPinCH itself has been a case study in alternative research ethics and practice, shifting control over the research process to community partners. This revealed significant tensions between the project, university policies, and funding agencies. Some of the IPinCH-supported projects literally took years to have funding and ethics applications approved, pointing to the need for revised university policy. To aid that process, and to share lessons learned, IPinCH hosted a national research ethics conference, Working Better Together, in 2015 that brought together scholars, practitioners, students, administrators and policy makers of diverse cultural and professional backgrounds from across Canada to explore what it means to work collaboratively in Indigenous research.

This theme contains a set of useful resources for practitioners who grapple with intellectual property ethics and issues. Emphasis is placed upon the special demands and rewards of collaborative research practice.

Events

Working Better Together — Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics

From February 18-20th, community-engaged academic and community researchers, educators, practitioners, policy analysts and research administrators gathered in Vancouver, British Columbia to explore what it really means – and what it takes – to work collaboratively in Indigenous research.

Reports

Comments on TCPS2	What conversation is the TCPS in? Comments on Chapter 9: Research Involving Aboriginal Peoples
Comments on Chapter 9: Research Involving Aboriginal Peoples

Blog Posts

Working Better Together – An Australian Perspective

By Jane Azzam

Publications

Consent, Collaboration, Treaty: Toward Anti-Colonial Praxis in Indigenous-Settler Research Relations (special section) Publication Title: Anthropologica 57(2): 411-417 Author: Brian Noble (guest editor) Year: 2015	Tripped Up By Coloniality: Anthropologists as Instruments or Agents in Indigenous-Settler Political Relations Publication Title: Anthropologica 57(2):427-443. Author: Brian Noble Year: 2015
Standing with Sol: The Spirit and Intent of Action Anthropology Publication Title: Anthropologica 57(2): 445-456 Author: Joshua Smith Year: 2015	Reconciling Inequalities in Archaeological Practice and Heritage Research Publication Title: Transforming Archaeology: Activist Practices and Prospects, edited by S. Atalay, L.R. Clauss, R.H. McGuire, and J.R. Welch, pp.133-158, Left Coast Press , Walnut Creek. Author: George Nicholas Year: 2014
Engaging Archaeology: Positivism, Objectivity and Rigor in Activist Archaeology Publication Title: Transforming Archaeology: Activist Practices and Prospects, edited by S. Atalay, L.R. Clauss, R.H. McGuire, and J.R. Welch, pp.45-59, Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek Author: Sonya Atalay Year: 2014	Activating Archaeology Publication Title: Transforming Archaeology: Activist Practices and Prospects, edited by S. Atalay, L.R. Clauss, R.H. McGuire, and J.R. Welch, pp.197-214, Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek Author: K. Anne Pyburn Year: 2014
'Do Not Do Unto Others...': Community-Based Participatory Research Approaches to Identifying Indigenous Heritage Concerns and Avoiding Harm Publication Title: Appropriating the Past: Philosophical Perspectives on Archaeological Practice, edited by R. Coningham and G. Scarre Author: George Nicholas and Alison Wylie Year: 2012	Working Towards Greater Equity and Understanding: Examples of Collaborative Archaeology and Museum Initiatives with Indigenous Peoples in North America Publication Title: SfAA Newsletter (22.1) Author: Sarah Carr-Locke and George Nicholas Year: 2011
Control of Information Originating from Aboriginal Communities: Legal and Ethical Contexts Publication Title: Inuit Studies/Études Inuit (Vol. 35, 1-2): 35-56 Author: Catherine Bell and Caeleigh Shier Year: 2011	Intellectual Property Issues in Heritage Management Part 2: Legal Dimensions, Ethical Considerations, and Collaborative Research Practices Publication Title: Heritage Management 3.1 (pp.117-147) Author: George Nicholas, Catherine Bell, Rosemary Coombe, John Welch, Brian Noble, Jane Anderson, Kelly Bannister, and Joe Watkins Year: 2010
Archaeological Finds: Legacies of Appropriation, Modes of Response Publication Title: The Ethics of Cultural Appropriation, edited by James O. Young and Conrad G. Brunk (pp.11-54) Author: George Nicholas, Alison Wylie Year: 2009	Appropriation of Traditional Knowledge: Ethics in the Context of Ethnobiology Publication Title: The Ethics of Cultural Appropriation, edited by James O. Young and Conrad G. Brunk (pp. 140-161) Author: Kelly Bannister, Maui Solomon Year: 2009

Presentations

Pragmatism at the Intersection of Indigeneity, Cultural Property, and Intangible Heritage Event: SFU Aboriginal Lecture Series Speaker: George Nicholas Year: 2016	IPinCH Lessons for Professional Archaeological Ethics Event: IPinCH Webinar, Simon Fraser University Speaker: Dru McGill Year: 2015
Legal Contexts for Implementing Ethical Aspirations in TCPS2 Event: Working Better Together: Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics, Vancouver, B.C. Speaker: Catherine Bell Year: 2015	Challenges and Strategies for Building Ethical Space in Diverse Stakeholder Collaborations Event: Working Better Together: Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics, Vancouver, B.C. Speaker: Nicole Aylwin (Discussant) Year: 2015
Sovereignty-Driven Research Ethics: Beyond Baseline Compliance, Consent, and Limitation of Liability Event: Working Better Together: Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics, Vancouver, B.C. Speaker: John Welch (Discussant) Year: 2015	Lessons learned from University-based collaborative research with Indigenous partners Event: Working Better Together: Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics, Vancouver, B.C. Speaker: George Nicholas (Discussant) Year: 2015
Learning to Listen - Ways to True Community Collaboration Event: IPinCH Fall Gathering Speaker: Sonya Selanoff and Holly Cusack-McVeigh Year: 2014	Using the Past to Contribute to Diné (Navajo) Cultural Heritage in the Present and Future Event: Society for Applied Anthropology Annual Meeting, Student Destinations Session Speaker: Davina Two Bears Year: 2014
Disrupting the Category of Knowledge: An IPinCH Theoretical Engagement Event: Society for Applied Anthropology Annual Meeting, Student Destinations Session Speaker: Claire Poirier Year: 2014	IP and Research Ethics Working Group Event: IPinCH Fall Gathering Speaker: Dru McGill, Sonya Atalay, Alison Wylie, Davina Two Bears Year: 2014
IPinCH Project Ethnography: Critical Reflections on Researchers Conducting Projects on Indigenous Heritage and Intellectual Property Issues. Event: Native American and Indigenous Studies Association Conference Speaker: Alexis Bunten Year: 2013	Law of the Buffalo: Relations and Obligations in Heritage Management Event: Canadian Anthropology Association Annual Meeting Speaker: Claire Poirier Year: 2013
Research Collaborations with Native Communities: New Directions in Social Science Ethics Event: NSF Program Director Lecture Speaker: Sonya Atalay (panelist) Year: 2013	Negotiating the Past: Collaborative Practice in Cultural Heritage Research Event: Public History Seminar Series, Kings College London Speaker: Alison Wylie Year: 2012
Seeking Best Practices and Important Themes in Collaborative Research Agreements Event: World Archaeological Congress Intercongress (Indigenous People and Museums, Indianapolis) Speaker: Davina Two Bears and Dru McGill Year: 2011	'When Descendant Communities are in the Driver’s Seat': Examples of Collaborative, Community-Based Heritage Research from the IPinCH Project Event: American Anthropological Association Conference, Session: Reversing the Legacy of Colonialism in Heritage Research (Montreal, Quebec) Speaker: George Nicholas Year: 2011
Reversing the Legacy of Colonialism in Heritage Research Event: American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting (Montreal, QC) Speaker: Stephen Loring (session organizer) Year: 2011	Achieving Reasonable Balance in Archaeological Practice Event: Society for American Archaeology (Sacramento, CA) Speaker: George Nicholas Year: 2011
Essential Tensions in Archaeological Theory and Practice Event: Stanford Archaeology Centre, Archaeology Workshops Series (Stanford, CA) Speaker: George Nicholas Year: 2010	Access to and Control Over Data and Products of Research: Intellectual Property, Research and Tribunal Contexts Event: Canadian Bar Association North Speaker: Catherine Bell Year: 2010
Respect, Rigour and Responsibility: Collaborative Ethics Practices and the Academy. Event: Inuit Studies Conference (7th, Val-d'Or, Quebec) Speaker: Catherine Bell Year: 2010	Intellectual Property and Ethics Session Event: Inuit Studies Conference (7th, Val-d'Or, Quebec) Speaker: Murielle Nagy (organizer) Year: 2010
The Ethical Dimensions of Intellectual Property in Cultural Heritage: Community-Based Approaches to Identifying and Avoiding Harm Event: Appropriating the Past: The Uses and Abuses of Cultural Heritage Conference (Durham University, St. Hild and Bede College) Speaker: George Nicholas Year: 2009	Comments on the Draft 2nd Edition of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans Event: Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics of the Tri-Council of Canadian Research Agencies Speaker: George Nicholas, Catherine Bell, Joe Watkins, John Welch, Kelly Bannister Year: 2009
Community-Based Fieldwork with the Innu of Labrador: Lessons from Thirty Years of Collaboration Event: Symposium on Ethics and Community-Based Fieldwork, DePauw University (Greencastle, IN) Speaker: Stephen Loring Year: 2009	Decolonizing Research Methods: Lessons From The First Nations Cultural Heritage and Law Project Event: Symposium on Ethics and Community-Based Fieldwork, DePauw University (Greencastle, IN) Speaker: Catherine Bell Year: 2009
Developing Practical Guidelines for the Protection of Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge through Community-based Initiatives Event: Symposium on Ethics and Community-Based Fieldwork, DePauw University (Greencastle, IN) Speaker: Jane Anderson Year: 2009

Fact Sheets

Collaborative Projects and Memoranda of Agreement (MOA)

Videos & Podcasts

Conference Closing The following presentations comprised the formal closing of the Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia:	Keynote Speaker Closing Reflections Speaker: Marlene Brant Castellano and Willie Ermine In their closing presentations, keynote speakers Dr. Marlene Brant Castellano and Professor Willie Ermine share their impressions and reflections from the Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Youth Statement Speaker: Mike McKenzie In this presentation, Mike McKenzie, Youth Representative, National Association of Friendship Centres shared his perspective on Indigenous research ethics and impressions arising from the Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.	Musical Facilitation with Native American Flute Speaker: Vicki Kelly Song copyright © 2015 by Vicki Kelly The songs shared by Dr. Vicki Kelly (Anishinaabe and Métis Scholar and Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Simon Fraser University) were part of the Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
SESSION 4: Continuing Education and Innovation in Research Ethics Theory and Practice This video is a record of “Session 4: Continuing Education and Innovation in Research Ethics Theory and Practice” from the Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.	SESSION 3: Overcoming Challenges to Collaboration This video is a record of “Session 3: Overcoming Challenges to Collaboration: Innovative Agreements and Partnership Arrangements” from the Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Day 2 Welcome Speaker: Florence James Coast Salish Elder Florence James of Penelakut Island offers a prayer and special blessing in the Coast Salish dialect, Hul’q’umi’num, for participants on Day 2 of the “Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics” that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.	SESSION 2: Actualizing Indigenous Values and Methodologies This video is a record of “Session 2: Actualizing Indigenous Values and Methodologies in Ethics Policy-making and Practice” from the “Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics” that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
SESSION 1: Implementing TCPS2 This video is a record of “Session 1: Implementing TCPS2 in Collaborative Indigenous Research – Policy, Funder, Institution and Project Perspectives” from the Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.	Reflections on the Evolving Dialogue on Indigenous Research Ethics (Keynote Presentation) Speaker: Marlene Brant Castellano In this presentation, Mohawk Scholar Dr. Marlene Brant Castellano, Community Co-chair, Aboriginal Council of Queen’s University, reflects on her extensive experience in the evolution of Indigenous research ethics policy in Canada.
Dancing Particles (Keynote) Speaker: Willie Ermine In this presentation, entitled "Dancing Particles," Cree philosopher and educator Willie Ermine, Professor, First Nations University of Canada, elaborates on the concept of “Ethical Space” as a foundational practice for ethical research relationships.	Being in Movement Speaker: Paul Linden In this presentation, Dr. Paul Linden (6th Dan Aikido) describes some basic elements of the martial art of Aikido and the practice of “embodied peacemaking.”
Ts’lhnuts’umaat Traditional Teaching Speaker: Florence James In this presentation, Coast Salish Elder Florence James of Penelakut Island shares “Ts’lhnuts’umaat” which is a traditional teaching about being “the whole family.” Florence shared her teaching to assist participants who gathered for the “Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics” that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.	Conference Overview Speaker: Kelly Bannister In this presentation, Dr. Kelly Bannister, Conference Chair provides an initial overview of the “Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics” that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Opening Comments Speaker: George Nicholas In this presentation, Dr. George Nicholas, IPinCH Project Director, and Professor of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University provides opening comments to participants of the Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.	Welcome by SFU President Andrew Petter Speaker: Andrew Petter In this presentation, Dr. Andrew Petter, President and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University formally welcomes participants as part of the Opening Ceremony for the Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Traditional Opening and Territorial Welcome Speaker: Victor Guerin Song copyright © 2015 by Victor Guerin In this presentation, Victor Guerin, Musqueam First Nation, provides a Traditional Opening and Territorial Welcome as part of the Opening Ceremony for the Working Better Together Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics that took place February 18-20th, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.	Pragmatism at the Intersection of Indigeneity, Cultural Property, and Intangible Heritage Speaker: George Nicholas When descendant groups are denied direct and meaningful engagement in decision making, heritage management policies are ineffective at best and harmful at worst.
IPinCH Conversations / Linda Tuhiwai Smith on Decolonizing Research Linda Tuhiwai Smith talks with Mariane Gaudreau and Brian Egan about her influential book “Decolonizing Methodologies,” the growth in Indigenous research and researchers, the challenges of doing community-based work within academia, and much more.	IPinCH Conversations / Cultural Commodification, the Law and Ethics Speaker: Catherine Bell In this video, legal scholar Catherine Bell chats with IPinCH Project Ethnographer Alexis Bunten following the IPinCH "Cultural Commodification, Indigenous Peoples & Self-Determination" symposium & workshop.
Heritage and Knowledge: Decolonizing the Research Process Speaker: Linda Tuhiwai Smith In her Munro Lecture at SFU’s Harbour Centre, Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith shares her tremendous insights into indigenous knowledge, language revitalization, decolonizing research practices, and how to "make knowledge live.”	IPinCH Conversations / Reconciliation and Repatriation Speaker: Robin R.R. Gray In this episode, Robin R. R. Gray, PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology at UMass Amherst, discusses her community-based participatory action project to repatriate a collection of Tsimshian sound recordings back to her community.
George Nicholas and Kelly Bannister on radio program CFAX 1070 Following IPinCH's SSHRC Partnership Award win, George Nicholas and Kelly Bannister were asked for an interview with Pamela McCall on CFAX1070 (Victoria, B.C.).

Press Releases

Working better for indigenous cultural heritage

SFU-based international research group convenes conference on how higher education stakeholders could collaborate better on indigenous cultural heritage.

Media Coverage

"Exploring Indigenous research ethics policy and practice" — University of Victoria, Internal Research Newsletter	“Yvonne Vezina, PhD student, invited as panelist for Conference on Indigenous Research Ethics” — U Saskatchewan School of Environment and Sustainability Newsletter
"Working Better Together: Indigenous Research Ethics Influence WSP Work" — POLIS Water Sustainability Project Winter 2015 Newsletter	"IPinCH and the SSHRC Partnership Award" - CFAX 1070 (interview with George Nicholas and Kelly Bannister)
"Intellectual Property Rights & the IPinCH Project" - CJSF Radio, Ideas and Issues (interview with George Nicholas)	"TIG for Intellectual Property Rights" — Society for Applied Anthropology Newsletter
"Archeology's dark side" — The Windsor Star