Students

ABST3025 – Indigenous Research Methodologies

2020 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Tristan Kennedy
Bronwyn Carlson
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(ABST1000 or ABST100) and (ABST2020 or ABST202 or ABST2060 or ABST2035)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit examines contemporary and historical research practices and explores decolonising and Indigenist research methodologies. This unit also provides students with the skills and knowledge to engage in ethical research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. Students are guided by a range of documents outlining ethical research practices including, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research guidelines, the National Health and Medical Research Council's, Values and Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research (Values and Ethics) and Macquarie University Ethics Approval process.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Critically consider specific texts by Indigenous Australian people in the light of the above understandings.
  • ULO2: Justify your role as an Indigenous or non-Indigenous researcher or practitioner undertaking research or work with Indigenous communities.
  • ULO3: Explain the principles of a range of Indigenous Research Methodologies appropriate for application in research with Indigenous peoples.
  • ULO4: Apply appropriate Indigenous Studies theoretical frameworks to resolve a range of ethical problems in Indigenous research.
  • ULO5: Critically reflect on current issues in Indigenous affairs and develop a proposal for small research project to address the problem.
  • ULO6: Interpret and communicate the principles of current Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies guidelines to Indigenous community and professional audiences.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research Proposal 40% No 9th November 2020
Tutorial Activities 30% No Weekly
Review Essay 30% No 28th September 2020

Research Proposal

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 9th November 2020
Weighting: 40%

This assessment task requires you to develop a research proposal. You will draw on your background research in the previous two assessment tasks.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Justify your role as an Indigenous or non-Indigenous researcher or practitioner undertaking research or work with Indigenous communities.
  • Apply appropriate Indigenous Studies theoretical frameworks to resolve a range of ethical problems in Indigenous research.
  • Critically reflect on current issues in Indigenous affairs and develop a proposal for small research project to address the problem.
  • Interpret and communicate the principles of current Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies guidelines to Indigenous community and professional audiences.

Tutorial Activities

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 30%

Active participation in weekly online tutorial activities. These will be available on a weekly basis on iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically consider specific texts by Indigenous Australian people in the light of the above understandings.
  • Explain the principles of a range of Indigenous Research Methodologies appropriate for application in research with Indigenous peoples.
  • Apply appropriate Indigenous Studies theoretical frameworks to resolve a range of ethical problems in Indigenous research.
  • Critically reflect on current issues in Indigenous affairs and develop a proposal for small research project to address the problem.

Review Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 28th September 2020
Weighting: 30%

In this task you will select one Indigenous research methods text from a list provided. You will be required to do a short presentation in class and submit a written review.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically consider specific texts by Indigenous Australian people in the light of the above understandings.
  • Explain the principles of a range of Indigenous Research Methodologies appropriate for application in research with Indigenous peoples.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Recommended Readings

Allen, C., 2007, ‘Rere Ke/Moving Differently: Indigenizing Methodologies for Comparative Indigenous Literary Studies’, Journal of New Zealand Literature, 24:2, pp. 1-26.

Andersen, C., 2009, ‘Critical Indigenous Studies: From difference to density’, Cultural Studies Review, 15:2, pp. 80-100.

Ball, J., & Janyst, P., 2008, ‘Enacting research ethics in partnerships with indigenous communities in Canada: “Do it in a good way”, Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 3:2, pp. 33-51.

Beaton, B., Perley, D., George, C. & O’Donnell, S. (2017). Engaging Remote Indigenous Communities Using Appropriate Online Research Methods. In N. Fielding, R. M. Lee & G. Blank (eds.), The Sage handbook of online research methods - 2nd edition, Sage. London, UK. Pp. 563-577.

Bessarab D., & Ngandu, B., 2010, ‘Yarning About Yarning as a Legitimate Method in Indigenous Research’, International Journal of Critical Indigenous Studies, 3:1, pp. 37-50.

Bin-Sallik, M., 2003, ‘Cultural Safety: Let’s Name it!’, Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 32, pp. 21-28.

Carew, M., Green, J., Kral, I., Nordlinger, R. and Singer, R., 2015. Getting in touch: Language and digital inclusion in Australian Indigenous communities. Language Documentation & Conservation, 9.

Castejon, V., K. Hughes, O. Haag, & A. Cole, 2014, Ngapatji Ngapatji: In turn, in turn: Ego-histoire, Europe and Indigenous Australia, ANU Press: Canberra.

Coles, T., Hall, C.M. and Duval, D.T., 2016. Tourism and postdisciplinarity: Back to the future?. Tourism Analysis, 21(4), pp.373-387.

Cram, F. and Mertens, D.M., 2016. Negotiating solidarity between indigenous and transformative paradigms in evaluation. Evaluation Matters—He Take Tō Te Aromatawai, 2, pp.161-189.

Czaykowska-Higgins, E., ‘Research models, community engagement, and linguistic fieldwork: Reflections on working within Canadian Indigenous communities’, Language Documentation & Conservation, 3:1, pp. 15-50.

Foley, D., 2003, ‘Indigenous Epistemology and Indigenous Standpoint Theory’, Social Alternatives, 22:1, pp. 44-52.

Harkin, N., 2017, ‘On Responsibility’, Overland, 226, 51.

Henderson, R., Simmons, D. S., Bourke, L., & Muir, J. 2002, ‘Development of guidelines for non-Indigenous people undertaking research among the Indigenous population of north-east Victoria, Medical Journal of Australia, 176:10, pp. 482-485.

Hitchcock, R., 2002, ‘Repatriation, indigenous peoples, and development lessons from Africa, North America, and Australia, Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies, 15:1, pp. 57-66.

Houts L & Feagin J, 2001, Racing Research, Researching Race: Methodological Dilemmas in Critical Race Studies by France Winddance Twine and Jonathan W. Warren, Contemporary Sociology, 30:5, pp. 541-542

Kavelin, C., 2008, ‘Universities as the Gatekeepers of the Intellectual Property of Indigenous People's Medical Knowledge’, The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 37, pp. 34-45.

Martin, K., 2008, Please Knock Before You Enter: Aboriginal regulation of outsiders and the implications for researchers, Post Pressed: Teneriffe, QLD.

McGregor, D., 2004, "Coming full circle: Indigenous knowledge, environment, and our future." American Indian Quarterly. 28.3/4.

Mertens, D.M., 2017. Transformative research: personal and societal. International Journal for Transformative Research, 4(1), pp.18-24.

Moreton-Robinson, A., 2015, 'Toward a new research agenda: Foucault, whiteness, and sovereignty', The White Possessive: Property, Power, and Indigenous Sovereignty, University of Minnesota Press.

Nakata, M., 2006, ‘Australian Indigenous Studies: A Question of Discipline’, The Australian Journal of Anthropology, 17:3, pp. 265-275.

Nakata, M., 2007, Disciplining the savages, savaging the disciplines, Aboriginal Studies Press: Canberra, ACT.

Nakata, M., et al., 2012, ‘Decolonial goals and pedagogies for Indigenous studies’, Decolonization: indigeneity, education & society, 1:1, pp. 120-140.

Porsanger, J., 2004, ‘An Essay about Indigenous Methodology’, Nordlit : Tidsskrift i litteratur og kultur, 8:1, pp. 105-120.

Reilly, M., 2011, 'Māori Studies, Past and Present: A Review', The Contemporary Pacific, 23:2, pp. 340-370.

Rigney, L., 1999, ‘Internationalization of an Indigenous Anticolonial Cultural Critique of Research Methodologies: A Guide to Indigenist Research Methodology and Its Principles, Wicazo Sa Review, 14:2, pp.109-121.

Tuhiwai Smith, L., 2012, ‘Towards Developing Indigenous Methodologies: Kaupapa Maori Research’ in Tuhiwai Smith, Decolonizing Methodologies, Zed Books, New York, pp. 297-314.

Tuhiwai Smith, L., 2012, Decolonizing Methodologies: research and indigenous peoples, Zed Books: New York.

Warrior, R., 2009. ‘Native American Scholarship and the transnational turn’, Cultural Studies Review, 15:2, pp. 119-131.

Wilson, S., 2001, ‘What is Indigenous Research Methodology?, Canadian Journal of Native Education, 25:2, pp. 175-179.

Wilson, S., 2008, Research is Ceremony: indigenous research methods, Fernwood Publishing: Black Point, N.S.

Unit Schedule

ABST302 Indigenous Research Methodologies

Session Two 2020

Date

Topic

Location

Week 1 – 30th July

Indigenous Studies as a Discipline

  • Introduction and Overview

Kovach, M., 2015. Emerging from the margins: Indigenous methodologies. Research as resistance: revisiting critical, Indigenous, and anti-oppressive approaches, pp.43-64.

Nakata, M. et al., 2012, 'Decolonial goals and pedagogies for Indigenous studies', Decolonization: indigeneity, education & society, 1:1, pp. 120-140.

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 2 – 6th August

 Dr Shawn Wilson

Wilson, S., 2008. Research is ceremony. Indigenous research methods. Winnipeg: Fernwood.

Nakata, M., 2006, 'Australian Indigenous Studies: A Question of Discipline', The Australian Journal of Anthropology, 17:3, pp. 265-275.

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 3 – 13th August

Dr Linda Tuhiwai Smith

Smith, L.T., 2007. On tricky ground. The landscape of qualitative research, 1, pp.85-113.

Foley, D., 2003, ‘Indigenous Epistemology and Indigenous Standpoint Theory’, Social Alternatives, 22:1, pp. 44-52.

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 4 – 20th August

Distinguished Professor Aileen Moreton-Robinson

Moreton-Robinson, A., 2006. Towards a new research agenda? Foucault, whiteness and indigenous sovereignty. Journal of Sociology, 42(4), pp.383-395.

Henderson, R., Simmons, D. S., Bourke, L., & Muir, J. 2002, ‘Development of guidelines for non-Indigenous people undertaking research among the Indigenous population of north-east Victoria, Medical Journal of Australia, 176:10, pp. 482-485.

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 5 – 27th August

Dr Ryan Frazer

Readings TBC

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 6 – 3rd September

Summer-May Finlay

Readings TBC

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 7 – 10th September

Reading Week

(Choose one of the following for your book review assignment)

 

Martin, K., 2008, Please Knock Before You Enter: Aboriginal regulation of outsiders and the implications for researchers, Post Pressed: Teneriffe, QLD.

Nakata, M., 2007, Disciplining the savages, savaging the disciplines, Aboriginal Studies Press: Canberra, ACT.

Wilson, S., 2008, Research is Ceremony: indigenous research methods, Fernwood Publishing: Black Point, N.S.

Tuhiwai Smith, L., 2012, Decolonizing Methodologies: research and indigenous peoples, Zed Books: New York.

Castejon, V., K. Hughes, O. Haag, & A. Cole, 2014, Ngapatji Ngapatji: In turn, in turn: Ego-histoire, Europe and Indigenous Australia, ANU Press: Canberra.

 

No lecture

17th September – 28th September

Mid-Session Break

 

Week 8 – 1st October

Book Review Presentations

No Readings

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 9 – 8th October

Professor Alex Wilson

Ball, J., & Janyst, P., 2008, ‘Enacting research ethics in partnerships with indigenous communities in Canada: “Do it in a good way”, Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 3:2, pp. 33-51.

Wilson, A., 2015. Our coming in stories: cree identity, body sovereignty and gender self-determination. Journal of Global Indigeneity, 1(1), p.4.

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 10 – 15th October

Distinguished Professor Maggie Walter

McGregor, D., 2004, ‘Coming full circle: Indigenous knowledge, environment, and our future.’ American Indian Quarterly. 28, (3/4).

Walter, M., 2005. ‘Using the 'power of the data' within Indigenous research practice’. Australian Aboriginal Studies, (2), p.27.

 

 

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 11 – 22nd October

Josephine Bourne

Readings TBC

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 12 – 29th October

Dr Ryan Frazer

No readings this week.

 

Zoom Thursday 2pm – 4pm

Week 13 – 5th November

Reflection and Feedback

 

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In Australia there are two distinct Indigenous peoples: Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people.

When writing about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders do not use the acronym ‘ATSI’, write in full. Capital letters should always be used when referring to Aboriginal peoples and or Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are acceptable terms to use, it should be recognised that these are collective terms and often used improperly to impose a single identity on the many different communities.

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