Centering Indigenous Nations within Indigenous Methodologies

s p r i n g 2 0 1 5 w i c a z o s a r e v i e w How do we understand Indigenous individuals, communities, and nations as research subjects, researchers, and beneficiaries of research? The primary focus of Indigenous methodologies and research should center on the issues and concerns of Indigenous nations or peoples. Indigenous nations, cultures, governments, and issues should be the primary research units and the primary focus of theory, policy, positionality, and analysis within Indigenous studies approaches and paradigms. Western research institutions and academic disciplines express their values, goals, and research results when addressing policy, political, or academic issues found in Western nations and cultural and intellectual traditions. Often Western researchers theorize and study Indigenous peoples as part of their own “universal” research, policy, and theoretical interests. This is the main body of research in regard to Indigenous peoples that currently takes place in the world. Indigenous peoples have widely differing cultures, territories, and conceptions of self-government, and goals and values that usually differ from the research goals conducted by institutions supported by nation-states. There is nothing wrong with differing research paradigms and perspectives, if researchers are truly seeking reliable knowledge and understanding. Just as mainstream-supported research serves the goals and interests of nation-states, Indigenous studies should foster the goals and values of Indigenous governments, nations, and communities. Research Centering Indigenous nations within Indigenous methodologies