Conducting Research with Aboriginal Communities in

Atlantic CanadaBy

Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network (UAKN) Atlantic Research Centre Executive Committee Members

For The CAURA East & CAREB Atlantic Conference

UNB Fredericton NB, Nov 21-22 2013

Greetings from the UAKN Atlantic Executive Committee and

guests…

Outline Introduce UAKN Atlantic UAKN’s Guiding Ethical Principles & funding criteriaLisa Jodoin & Patsy McKinney: living examples of

what constitutes community engagementReviewing research proposals: identifying “red flags”REB guidance for researchersReflections & questions

UAKN OverviewThe goal of the UAKN is to be a durable research infrastructure that focuses attention on urban Aboriginal concerns and contributes to a better quality of life for Aboriginal people living in cities and towns by:

Funding high-quality, policy-relevant community driven research undertaken in partnership between UAKN Regional Research Centres and the community -- that bring together urban Aboriginal communities, academic and government perspectives; and by

Engaging Aboriginal community stakeholders, government and academics in an ongoing dialogue on policy priorities and research needs.

UAKN Guiding Ethical Principles

Community-driven researchProtectionFairnessRespectHonestyCommunity relevance & practicality

UAKN Atlantic Ethical Research Funding Criteria

Community-driven (community-based & community-paced)Team: community-partner, academic, elder, government,

student, community researcher, government representative; promotes KSTE

Chapter 9: TCPS 2 Research AgreementBuilds research capacity: “research by” vs. “research on”Grounded in a historical/broader contextAppropriate REB processes

What Constitutes Community Engagement: Living Examples

Lisa Jeanne Jodoin, PhD Candidate UNB, Principle Investigator “Navigating government services: the "lived experience" of young urban

Aboriginal families residing in Fredericton NB”

Patsy McKinney, Executive Director, Under One Sky Head Start and

Chair National Aboriginal Head Start Council

“Grounding the work of urban Aboriginal early child development programs: development of a culturally appropriate parent/family/community engagement (PFC-E) framework and suite of meaningful PFC-E indicators”

“Navigating Government Services” Project Description

As evidenced in the Bernard Richard report on First Nations child welfare in New Brunswick (2010), Aboriginal families face many challenges navigating government services and all too often fall through the cracks. This proposed research deepens our understanding of this population and the challenges they face in relation to the system by asking questions such as: “In what ways are government services working effectively to meet the needs of off-reserve aboriginal families in Fredericton?”; “In what ways are government services not working effectively for off-reserve families?”; and “How can we improve services for urban Aboriginal people in Fredericton?”

Community Partners …Patsy McKinney – Under One Sky Head StartJenny Perley (Community Researcher) – Under One Sky Head Start Carol Labillois-Slocum – New Brunswick Aboriginal People’s CouncilWendy Wetteland – New Brunswick Aboriginal People’s CouncilAmanda Leblanc – New Brunswick Aboriginal People’s CouncilShelley Germain – Gignoo Transition HouseGary Gould – Skigin-Elnoog Housing Corporation

Government Partners …Carla Gregan-Burns – NB Department of Social DevelopmentBill MacKenzie – NB Department of Social DevelopmentBlake McNeil – NB Department of Social DevelopmentLouise Hale Finley – NB Department of Social DevelopmentDonna Wahienha:wi Lahache: NB Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Keeping the research community-driven

The research question was developed by the community The TCPS 2 Research Agreement Community researcherFocus group follow up meetings to ensure accuracy of

data and to foster community engagementCollaborative analysis of dataCollaborative drafting of final report Impact – follow up work to ensure the research makes

real change for the community

Living Example #2: National UAKN RFP Submission …

Patsy McKinney, Executive Director, Under One Sky Head Start and Chair National Aboriginal Head Start Council

Research Proposal Title: “Grounding the work of urban Aboriginal early child development programs: development of a culturally appropriate parent/family/community engagement (PFC-E) framework and suite of meaningful PFC-E indicators”

Research Proposal: “Red Flags”Not community-driven; limited community engagement Issues that can be misconstruedFeeds into existing stereotypesSystem-centric not person/community/people-centricCulturally inappropriateMethodology: inclusion/exclusion: power/controlPeople/persons not involved in a good way (apathy)Outcomes: nothing done with the results, KT

REB Guidance for Researchers “conducting research with Aboriginal communities”…

Colonial language (on the part of the researcher & REB)Acknowledge the community’s history & its impact on

proposed program of researchCommunity-driven; community-based & community-

paced, not researcher-driven (ask,“Who has control?) Inclusive TEAM approach supporting KTSE, good policy

development and policy/practice implementationChapter 9: TCPS 2 Research AgreementBuild the community’s research capacity

Questions & DiscussionDiscussants/UAKN Atlantic Executive Committee

Members:

Patsy McKinney, Executive Director, Under One Sky Head Start, Fredericton, NB

Lisa Jeanne Jodoin, PhD Candidate & PI UAKN Atlantic funded research project, Fredericton, NB

Verlé Harrop, Director UAKN Atlantic, UNB Fredericton

Contact Info & ResourceDr. Verlé Harrop vharrop@gmail.com506 453 4550 www.UAKN.org