Child and Youth Care

An Indigenous research methodology is “research by and for Indigenous Peoples, using techniques and methods drawn from tradition and knowledges of those people” (Evans, et.al., 2008). Techniques include resistance to colonial narratives, recognition of the colonial past and of Indigenous Peoples’ lived experiences, and resurgence of Indigenous worldviews.

Indigenous research methods refer to approaches that respect and incorporate the perspectives, values and methodologies of Indigenous Peoples and communities. Research methods include sharing circles, ceremony, storytelling, art, dance oral traditions, and holistic understandings of knowledge, with the aim to bridge Western academic approaches with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, relating and doing.

Principles that guide the ethical conduct of research with Indigenous communities are referred to as the 4R’s: Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, and Responsibility. These principles emphasize mutual understanding, collaboration and the acknowledgment of the cultural context and impact of Indigenous research.

• Respect: Indigenous Peoples cultural integrity and Indigenous knowledge.
• Relevant: Provide research that is relevant to Indigenous peoples’ perspectives and lived experiences.
• Reciprocity: Foster reciprocal relationships – research should be a two-way exchange of ideas, understandings, knowledge, and benefits.
• Responsibility: Conduct research in an ethical and accountable manner. 

Learners incorporating Indigenous research methods in their work should engage respectfully with Indigenous perspectives and seek input from the community when possible (this relates more to when doing interviews and community-based or community-driven research). Learners can integrate oral history, stories, and community knowledge, as well as acknowledging the 4R’s to ensure ethical research practices.  

When finding research written by Indigenous authors and/or about Indigenous communities, be sure to look in a number of different places, in the Library and beyond. This page includes a curated list of resources that may support your research, including:

1. Library databases and search portals that specialize in Indigenous interests and issues. 
2. Academic and general-interest journals and magazines with a focus on Indigenous communities, written by Indigenous authors.
3. Indigenous organizations and associations that produce their own research, some of which is made publicly available. 

When researching Indigenous authors, communities and interests, remember that the names of Indigenous nations and languages have often changed over time, and spellings can also vary. You may need to conduct multiple searches using a variety of terminology to find the best information. 

Combine similar keywords and concepts with OR in Page 1+, Library databases, and Google Scholar to improve results. Here are two different examples: 

• "First Nations" OR Indigenous OR Inuit OR Metis
• Indigenous OR Cree OR Haudenosaunee OR Anishinaabe

When narrowing your search to specific topics or issues, brackets allow you the ability to group similar concepts together, while allowing for more keywords or concepts to be included in a search. 

Here are two different examples:

• ("First Nations" OR Indigenous OR Inuit OR Metis) child*
• (Indigenous OR Cree OR Haudenosaunee OR Anishinaabe) "restorative justice"

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  Here are some selected databases and search engines to start your search: 

Search 211 Ontario for more organizations and associations across the province. Search 211 for organizations and associations across the country.