Ethical foundations and principles for collaborative research with Inuit and their governments

• Published in: Études/Inuit/Studies
• Main Authors: Felt, Lawrence F., Natcher, David
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Association Inuksiutiit Katimajiit Inc. 2011
• Subjects: Canada; Études/Inuit/Studies; inuit
• Online Access: http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1012837ar; https://doi.org/10.7202/1012837ar

Academic research in Canada involving Aboriginal peoples has changed dramatically during the last 20 years. From an academic researcher’s perspective, the changes have recently become formalised in the release of the 2nd edition of the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethics in Human Research. In this article we examine similarities and differences in the way ethical review is constructed and approached from university, Aboriginal and, in particular, Inuit perspectives. We begin our argument with a general comparison of research ethics as expressed in academic and Aboriginal sources in order to find areas of commonality, difference, and potential ambiguity between the two perspectives. We then briefly review our own experience with a multiyear research project involving several Inuit governments of different spatial and administrative scales. We conclude with discussion of a common issue arising from academic research, including our own work with Inuit and the research ethics board chaired by one of the authors. It concerns how to address potential tension between critical inquiry associated with Western scientific paradigms and respect and use of Inuit knowledge within a collaborative research process. In conclusion, we offer some “best practice advice” to academic researchers who face such a dilemma. Les recherches universitaires au Canada impliquant des peuples autochtones ont spectaculairement changé au cours des 20 dernières années, et ces changements ont été récemment formalisés par la publication de la 2e édition de l’Énoncé de politique des trois Conseils: Éthique de la recherche avec des êtres humains. Dans cet article, nous examinons les similitudes et les différences de construction et d’approche des questions éthiques du point de vue des perspectives tant universitaires qu’autochtones, et en particulier, inuit. Nous commençons par une comparaison générale de l’éthique de la recherche telle qu’elle se dévoile dans les sources universitaires et autochtones afin de percevoir leurs points communs, leurs ...