Graduate researchers in Aboriginal health & Indigenous methodologies

This paper will explore perspectives on self-location and identity, cross-cultural collaboration and Indigenous methodologies amongst Indigenous and newcomer graduate students doing research in Aboriginal health in Canada. The Institute of Aboriginal People's Health, established in 2000 as one of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, has made efforts to develop Aboriginal capacity in health research through its support for national Network Environments for Aboriginal Health Research (NEAHRs).

At recent annual national gatherings of graduate students doing research in Aboriginal health through the NEAHRS, close to 50% of participants have self-identified as Aboriginal. Issues of partnerships with Aboriginal communities and ethics guidelines specific to Aboriginal health research have featured prominently in discussions at these gatherings. Less attention has been given to critical reflection on researcher identity, the relevance of Indigenous methodologies, and the complex and challenging power dynamics amongst researchers, and between researchers and Aboriginal communities. We will present on a participatory action-research project with graduate students which aims to stimulate individual and group reflection and discussion on these issues. This project is being jointly developed and executed by an Indigenous and a newcomer graduate researcher, and will be co-presented.