Methodologies & Ethics

Anthropology Thesis (M.A.)--University of British Columbia, (Vancouver), 2012.

Examines issues that arise when trying to research the origins of the peoples who inhabited the plains.

Looks at methodology for psychological study of cultural values within a northern Plains American Native community.

Summary of an ecological approach, that incorporates environmental, cultural & historical data with biological data, to help understand the causes of acute ear infections.

Médecine Sociale et Préventive Thèse (M.Sc.)--Université Laval, 1998.

Critique of past anthropological practices, and discussion of issues raised in Van der Peet and Delgamuukw court cases, and the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.

Public Health Thesis (MPH)--University of Victoria, 2020.

Review provides a look at current evaluation practices and suggests strategies for improvement by looking at reports and methodologies between 2000 and 2005.

Looks at the research approach and findings from the first three years of operation in the only Indigenous children's charter school in Canada.

Community Health Services Thesis (Ph.D)--University of Manitoba, 2012.

Discusses the absence of Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous worldviews in contemporary initiatives to lower the number of Indigenous children in the child welfare system. Presents two examples of Indigenous led initiatives and the evaluation of their impacts; stresses the need for intercultural, collaborative research that engages Indigenous communities.

Research focuses on impact of program on pharmacists as well as the barriers, usefulness and acceptability by health care workers.

Condensed version of the report on the Fifth Healing Our Spirits Worldwide (HOSW) conference on Aboriginal health and healing, held in Edmonton in 2006.

Communication Thesis (Ph.D.)--The University of New Mexico, 2010.

As part of the Ithaca S+R report When Research is Relational researchers interviewed seven Indigenous Studies (IS) scholars at Northwestern University. Findings indicated that the Library and the University could improve supports for IS scholars in areas of: Interdisciplinary Studies, Making & Maintaining Connections, Collections and Archives and Data, Publishing and Sharing.

Social Work Thesis (M.A.)--University of Calgary, 2004.

Brief description of study.

Discussion of the Wampum Research Model and its uses, including integrating traditions with contemporary and emerging areas of the arts.

Looks at four basic values, relationship, responsibility, reciprocity, and redistribution, that individuals and societies need to live by.

Education Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Colorado at Boulder, 1999.

Study conducted in Ojibway community in Manitoba used two interview formats to determine level of and variation in understanding of the disease, then analyzed responses to develop a cultural model.

Presents a set of principles to guide the researcher in negotiating the relationships between researchers, institutions and Aboriginal communities.

Summarizes the contents of papers submitted to the Department of Justice Canada by Larry K. Bremner, Andrea L.K. Johnston, Gladys Rowe, and Jo Lee Saskamoose.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--The University of Guelph, 2006.

Counselling Psychology Thesis (M.A.)--Simon Fraser University, 2017.

Qualitative study uses semi structured interviews in the North Sami language; content was transcribed and analyzed. Data indicates that many Sami people are not culturally safe within mainstream health-care systems and need medical practitioners to engage in culturally safe practices.

Discusses the role of a external researcher wanting to use participatory research in an Indigenous community.

Book review of: Faces in the Forest by Michael D. Blackstock. To access this review, scroll to page 129.

Criticizes the way that the majority of contemporary measures of well-being fail to consider the role that natural systems and the natural environment play in many, especially Indigenous, people’s health. Proposes a framework for considering the influence of these factors and advocates for health policy that considers them.

Travel highlights and problems encountered while trying to administer a questionnaire to family members for dissertation research.

Describes pilot project at the Emu Plains Correctional Centre in New South Wales, Australia where Indigenous women were trained in family research methodology.

Discusses the focus of four topic areas: the goal of ethics education, the teaching of ethics, the ethics curriculum, and a suggested framework for ethics education.

Deloria responds to the article "Progressive-Era Bureaucrats and the Unity of Twentieth-Century Indian Policy" arguing that much of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) policy is rooted in racism and in BIA employees’ desire to keep their jobs.

Discusses the process of theorizing life experience through storytelling. Asserts that the stories told by Indigenous women about their lives should be considered as theories for the purposes of research, writing, and living.

Archaeology Thesis (M.A.)--Simon Fraser University, 2011. Uses case studies from Arizona State Museum and the Glenbow Museum.

Discusses the differences in beliefs between Aboriginal scholars and women academics and the need for mutual understanding in cross-cultural dialogue.

Discusses how quantitative research for Aboriginal peoples has been used for advancing policy goals in child health and welfare.

Workshop aim was to create a sustainable approach to capacity development and research priority for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.

Looks at a case study in Mistamit examining participatory planning approaches, lack of support from community leaders and rate of pay for workers.

Discussion of the difficulties involved in delivering culturally relevant programs while operating under policies and legislation determined by provincial governments. Highlights the Caring for First Nations Children Society Aboriginal Social Worker Training Program, the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry-Child Welfare Initiative, Social Work Program at the University of Manitoba and the Yellowhead Tribal Services Agency as examples of successful innovations.

Discusses the goals of Indigenous quantitative research and how Indigenous ways of knowing and being can be used to improve the typical western approach to social science.

Paper offers a cautionary note on the importance of understanding culture and context when conducting First Nations health research with large data sets and outlines some approaches to research that can ensure appropriate development of research questions and interpretation of research findings.

Discusses issues such as Treaty and human rights, accountability, free and informed consent and methodologies and makes recommendations for the conduct of future studies.

Reports results of document search and interviews with representatives from regional First nations data governance centres. Focus of environment scan and research included: state and history of initiatives, regional considerations around the government-First Nation relationship, and regional data sovereignty, Nation building and intergovernmental relationships.

Study coordinated by the health centre with some support from academic partners, assessed the types of programming Elders would be interested in, and what they saw to be barriers to participation. Researchers offered participants several options to encourage survey participation including language and location of interview; a well-respected Elder was hired to conduct the interviews.

Website contains links, some with access to the full text of presentations, from a conference which explores intellectual thought and cultural development of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Many of the presenters were Canadian.

Covers topics such as research ethics, development of First Nations institutions, establishment of regional centres, Regional Longitudinal Health Survey, technology applications, and training/capacity development.

Looks at health issues affecting First Nations people and describes the pattern of health care utilization.

Related Material: Research Agreement Template. Companion Guide.