Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador is making groundbreaking steps in the ethics of Indigenous research.
ST. JOHN'S, NL-Memorial University has brought in a new policy-which school officials believe is the first of its kind in Canada-requiring any research involving Indigenous people to get their stamp of approval before going ahead.
At its July 9 meeting, the Board of Regents for Memorial University in Newfoundland approved the Research Impacting Indigenous Groups policy, the first of its kind known in Canadian universities.
The policy will provide more effective, sensitive and appropriate review of research impacting Indigenous people. It meets and exceeds the Tri-Council Policy Statement on the Ethical Conduct for Research, Chapter 9, Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada.
"Memorial is deeply committed to strengthening the impact and integrity of Indigenous research from the research proposal stage and continuing through to the research phase and beyond," said President Vianne Timmons.
"The approval by our Board of Regents marks a special moment in Memorial's history, particularly in our era of reconciliation, decolonization and Indigenization."
Collaborative process
The approval comes after nearly two years of engagement with the university community and external stakeholders and rights holders.
More than 2,000 people were involved in 60 meetings providing feedback and development of the policy, making it the most consulted policy in Memorial's history.
In addition to these consultations, an environmental scan was conducted of related practices, policies and processes at other Canadian universities. Research by experts in Indigenous research ethics, including those from Indigenous communities in the province, was also foundational to the development of the policy.
The Office of the Vice-President (Research) initiated and coordinated the process led by Dr. Max Liboiron, associate vice-president (Indigenous research).
The President's Advisory Committee on Indigenous Affairs recommended a working group to draft the policy.
That group consisted of Dr. Liboiron (Michif); Kelly Anne Butler (Mi'kmaw), student affairs officer-Indigenous Affairs at Grenfell Campus; and Michele Wood (Inuk), community member in Labrador.
The policy is designed to ensure Memorial University researchers are accountable to the existing research, priorities and ethics processes of Indigenous groups.
The policy requires researchers to engage with Indigenous groups at the very start of research to put them on a good path as projects develop.
Mutually useful research
"Indigenous groups across the province have been sharing knowledge and teachings from one generation to the next for centuries," said Inuk community member in Labrador Michele Wood who was part of the team developing the policy. "Research partnerships present opportunities to further share information and experiences, to find responsive ways to shape community programming and to explore emerging issues in an ever changing world."
Ms. Wood said that taking the time to develop a common ground, to better understand the skills and abilities of each partner, and to create a research partnership based on established goals and objectives that are responsive to community need-not only for academic benefit-prior to the formation of a research application is fundamental to success.
"This policy formalizes the importance that Memorial University places in creating a reciprocally beneficial partnership that is strengthened through early dialogue and relationship building – one that is designed to create inclusive, responsive and mutually useful research," she added.
The approved policy and its procedures are currently at http://www.mun.ca/research/indigenous/consent.php and will be added to Memorial's institutional policy site.
