All research with Aboriginal Peoples, including PiT Counts, should be conducted with an understanding of the potential harm that can result from externally-driven research. Historically, research conducted by European settlers has harmed many Aboriginal communities and in many cases has resulted in intergenerational trauma. For many years, research was used as a tool to exploit and exert control over Aboriginal Peoples, both in Canada and globally (see Smith, 2012). The National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) (2007) identifies that past research practices by external researchers have been “disrespectful, damaging and stigmatizing to First Nations People” in Canada (p. 3). The Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996) similarly identified that “[i]n the past, Aboriginal people have not been consulted about what information should be collected, who should gather that information, who should maintain it, and who should have access to it” (p. 4).
More broadly, many Aboriginal scholars, leaders, and organizations have identified that Western forms of knowledge do not reflect Aboriginal worldviews. The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres identifies that even the concept and definition of “culture” is a Western construct that is “often conveniently used by others to authoritatively represent, label, compare and study Indigenous systems of knowledge and practice” (p. 6). These experiences have led many Aboriginal Peoples to feel significant distrust and resistance towards externally driven research (NAHO, 2007).
While the legacy of harm caused by research continues to effect many Aboriginal communities, research is also increasingly used to improve the welfare of Aboriginal Peoples. In recent years, scholars have endeavoured to establish respectful research approaches ensuring Aboriginal Peoples’ rights and dignity. Further, there has been increased use of methodologies that emphasize indigenous control, ownership, and partnership between researchers and Aboriginal communities. Aboriginal leaders, scholars, and communities have articulated approaches to research that can provide benefit to Aboriginal communities, reflect their interests and concerns, and are grounded in respect for Aboriginal values and worldviews (NAHO, 2007; OFIFC, 2012). Many of these approaches have been articulated in well-known ethical guides, toolkits, and frameworks.
Research practices must be informed by both this history of harm and the opportunities that well-conducted research can provide to improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal Peoples across Canada. Given this opportunity, all PiT Counts must make demonstrable efforts – through partnership - to respect and foster the dignity, autonomy, self-determination, rights, and interests of Aboriginal Peoples. Count organizers must develop plans to carry out data collection in ways that mitigate the risk of harm, address issues of consent and confidentiality, provide benefits, return research to the community, and ensure that respect for participants is tantamount.
Guides to Ethical Research with Aboriginal Peoples |
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| Ownership, Control, Access and Possession or Self-Determination (OCAP) Applied to Research | In 2007 the National Aboriginal Health Organization authored a guide for conducting research with Aboriginal peoples. This guide emphasizes First Nations’ aspirations towards self-determination and self-governance as it relates to research. This includes “the right to make decisions about what, why, how and by whom information is collected, as well as how it will be used and shared” (p. 4). |
| USAI Research Framework | In 2012 the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centre’s developed the USAI Research Framework, which focuses on the principles of utility, self-voicing, access, and inter-relationality. |
| Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples of Canada | The Government of Canada’s guide for research with Aboriginal Peoples focuses on how the core value of respect for human dignity – expressed in the three principles of Respect for Persons, Concern for Welfare, and Justice – should guide all research with Aboriginal Peoples. |
| Guidelines for Conducting Research with Urban Aboriginal People who are Experiencing Homelessness | The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness will soon release a guide for conducting research with Aboriginal people who are experiencing homelessness. This will be the first guide of its kind in Canada. |
| Guidelines for Conducting Research with People who are Homeless | York University developed a tool to assist researchers in conducting research with homeless people. It may further assist in conducting research with Aboriginal people experiencing homelessness. |