Indigenous research methodology
Sue Green
Aboriginal Research and Resource Centre, UNSW
Contact Email:   s.greenunsw.edu.au

Since the earliest stages of colonisation Indigenous people and their knowledges have been the subjects of research. The control over research and the ownership of knowledge has been removed from and denied to Indigenous people. Much of that research has been culturally unsafe and damaging to Indigenous people and communities with very little if any positive results being seen. This has resulted in Indigenous people having a distrust of researchers and a reluctance to participate in research.

Out of the concerns regarding research, Indigenous people are demanding that researchers are accountable and that the research be controlled and directed by Indigenous people and communities. One of the results is that there is a growing body of Indigenous researchers and the development of research methodologies that are appropriate and culturally safe both nationally and internationally. Indigenous researchers such as Rigney, Brady, West, Battiste & Tuhiwai Smith amongst numerous others are talking about an Indigenous Research Methodology. This paper will continue the discussion regarding an Indigenous Research Methodology, what it looks like and whether only Indigenous people are able to conduct research within an Indigenous Research methodological framework.

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