Indigenous Methodologies: Building Towards a Collective and Self-Determined Future

This workshop focused on the discussions in Indigenous methodologies, including Canadian First Nations and Metis concepts of consultation with community experts, collaboration, learning-by-doing, creative intervention, land-based knowledge, working with an intergenerational focus, and listening to stories. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) refers to Inuit traditional knowledge, technology, and societal values. At the center of this philosophy is respect for relationships: to the land, with the arctic flora and fauna, between family and community. The key principles of IQ have been essential to the well-being and resilience of Inuit from time immemorial to the present day. Kaupapa Māori as the “conceptualisation of Māori knowledge” and this knowledge comes from a distinctly Māori ontological and epistemological perspective, including metaphysical and cosmological beliefs and observations that inform the primary cultural frame through which Māori understand, teach, and engage with each other and wider society. Following these principles, this research project applied Indigenous methods, IQ along with Māori framework which was discussed and drawn from the scholarly work in each geographic region. We worked from Indigenous theory, knowledge, praxis, and methodologies that rely on orality, performativity, and embodied knowledge.

This workshop took place March 10-11, 2020 at the University of New South Wales.