Indigenous self-determination in co-production of knowledge

• Main Author: Rudolf, Margaret Hope Cysewski
• Other Authors: Trainor, Sarah, Hirsch, Alexander, Hum, Richard, Topkok, Sean Asikłuk
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Social epistemology; Arctic regions; Sociology of knowledge; Indigenous peoples; Knowledge management; Theory of Knowledge; Interdisciplinary approach to knowledge; Traditional ecological knowledge; Ethnophilosophy; Doctor of Philosophy in Co-Production of Knowledge: Interdisciplinary Studies; Arctic; Climate change; Alaska
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11122/14967

Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2023 Analyzing and comprehending co-production of knowledge (CPK) in the context of working with Arctic Indigenous communities on climate change research is the main goal for this interdisciplinary doctoral dissertation. CPK is shared decision-making on every step of the research process with research partners from communities, agencies, or organizations. CPK with Arctic Indigenous communities requires dedicated consideration of equity, ethics, cultural worldviews, and colonization. Key concepts from Indigenous critical methodologies are used to analyze both the CPK theory and implementation. CPK has the potential to be an ethical space to question the status quo of research processes and support Indigenous self-determination. Critiquing NSF's Navigating the New Arctic as a case study, there were many missteps in not following CPK in the development of the program and projects, along with not following United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples' Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (Ch. 2). There are significant lessons to be learned from the literature on collaborative methodology, including Indigenous methodologies. Through synthesis work, a model was developed compiling factors of success to achieving CPK along with a discussion of perspectives on those factors and success metrics. The objective of the synthesis work is the development of tools to support transparent communication and co-design of research projects (Ch. 3). CPK happens in-between the boundaries of disciplines, cultures, and science-policy-community. Thirteen experts in boundary spanning co-produced lessons-learned and recommendations based on their expertise and experiences. The project co-produced strategies to overcome funding barriers and the cultural divide to Alaska Native communities utilizing a boundary analysis framework (Ch. 4). Applying the CPK and boundary spanning concepts, themes of success in improving Arctic observing were developed from homogenous focus ...