Research Guides: Indigenous Education: Indigenous Research Practices &amp; Working with Communities

Indigenous Knowledge & Intellectual Property

Indigenous Knowledge (sometimes used interchangeably with the term Traditional Knowledge) refers to the understandings, philosophies, tangible/intangible skills, and practices unique to Indigenous cultures.

Examples: oral traditions, histories, songs, dances, processes of creating art and crafts, and spiritual and ceremonial practices.

Intellectual property (IP) is usually thought of as individual or corporate ownership of creative works or technological advances. IP is maintained and protected by copyright, trademarks, or patents. But protections for intellectual property also extend to the cultural sovereignty of Indigenous communities.

The intellectual property rights of Indigenous peoples have been reaffirmed internationally under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Article 31 states,

"Indigenous peoples...have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions. In conjunction with indigenous peoples, States shall take effective measures to recognize and protect the exercise of these rights" (2007).

Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Knowledge
Definitions and recommendations for engaging in anthropological research with Indigenous communities, by Margaret Bruchac.

Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Data sovereignty is concept that data is subject to the laws, governance, and regulation of the nation or community where it is collected.

Indigenous data sovereignty is the right of Indigenous peoples to govern the collection, ownership, and application of data about Indigenous communities, peoples, lands, resources, etc.

In modern times more than ever, data ownership increases decision-making power.

By maintaining authority over data and information, Indigenous communities are in a position of power within colonial society, which has sought to exploit cultural expressions, Traditional Knowledge, and other information for profit or other purposes. In researching or conducting research with/about Indigenous communities, it's vital to recognize the sovereignty and rights of communities to allow or withhold access to information as deemed appropriate by the communities themselves.

Communities may have strict internal rules that limit how, when, or to whom information can be shared. It may be the case that cultural knowledge (such as spiritual practices, traditional stories, histories, etc.) may only be shared with members of the community, at certain times of year, or only with people of certain genders.

A community's protocols around information sharing are to be respected regardless of the researchers' perceived need for information. In general, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Cultural Advisors, and other community members should not be prodded to share information with outsiders beyond that which is offered.

Indigenous data, indigenous methodologies and indigenous data sovereignty
An article Arguing for a fundamental disturbance of the Western logics of statistical data the article details recent developments in the field including the emergence of the Indigenous Data Sovereignty movement.

Guides to Elder Protocols

Appropriate respect should be paid toward Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Cultural Advisors when consulting with communities or inviting individuals to participate in events, meetings, or classes. Several documents outline general Protocols for interacting with Elders (linked below).

Be aware that Protocols and expectations differ based on the community, the individual, and the specific nature of the request. If you are unsure of how to proceed, it is generally polite to ask.

Elder Protocol and Guidelines
A handbook on working respectfully with Elders and communities through the Council of Aboriginal Initiatives at the University of Alberta.
Stepping Stones: Elder Protocol
A primer on protocols for inviting Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or Cultural Advisors to to participate in meetings or events. Created by the Alberta Teacher's Association.
First Nation Elder Protocol
A blog post from Indigenous Corporate Training, Inc. on extending invitations to Elders, what to expect, and expectations of the the event/meeting host.

Resources & Further Reading

Conducting Research on Residential Schools
A Guide to the Records of the Indian and Inuit Affairs Program and Related Resources at Library and Archives Canada.
Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights and the Protection of Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Expressions in Canada
An overview of policies and procedures as described by the Government of Canada.
Methodology Matters: Designing a Pilot Study Guided by Indigenous Epistemologies
his article shares models developed to bridge Indigenous epistemologies with Western qualitative and quantitative research methods and demonstrates how these epistemologies can be used to guide the authors' development of a pilot study on traumatic spinal cord injury.
Research Methodology and Community Participation: A Decade of Indigenous Social Science Research in Canada
A study of the relationship between social science research methodologies and community participation.
When Research is Relational: Supporting the Research Practices of Indigenous Studies Scholars
A report of a project launched in 2017 by Ithaka S+R to explore the changing research methods and practices of Indigenous Studies scholars across Canada, the US, and Hawaiʻi with the goal of identifying services to better support them in ways that are also beneficial to Indigenous communities more broadly.

NorQuest College Library