A review of collaborative research practices with Indigenous Peoples in engineering, energy, and infrastructure development in Canada
Abstract Background Indigenous Peoples in Canada have survived hundreds of years of colonization and systematic exploitation, including actions carried out in the pursuit of energy resources and infrastructure development in traditional Indigenous territories. Research has been a tool in this exploi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Energy, Sustainability and Society |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-023-00382-8 |
| _version_ | 1811171601293508608 |
|---|---|
| author | Pia Dimayuga Shakya Sur Alex Choi Heather L. Greenwood Tracey Galloway Amy M. Bilton |
| author_facet | Pia Dimayuga Shakya Sur Alex Choi Heather L. Greenwood Tracey Galloway Amy M. Bilton |
| author_sort | Pia Dimayuga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Indigenous Peoples in Canada have survived hundreds of years of colonization and systematic exploitation, including actions carried out in the pursuit of energy resources and infrastructure development in traditional Indigenous territories. Research has been a tool in this exploitation through its legacy of research ‘on’ rather than ‘with’ Indigenous Peoples. As societies grapple with reconciliation, including how to build partnerships for sustainable land and energy development, engineering and technical research must use respectful approaches that centre on Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Main text This preliminary review aims to be a step to address the lack of literature on respectful research with Indigenous Peoples within the context of engineering, energy, and infrastructure. To this end, we: (a) summarize three key frameworks that have been used in technical research projects for carrying out research respectfully, as defined by Indigenous and Indigenist ways of knowing and doing (Research is Ceremony, Two-Eyed Seeing, and doing research in a “Good Way”) and derive from them overarching principles; (b) identify a sample of 13 engineering, energy and infrastructure research projects that report using an Indigenous-centred approach. These relate to five technical areas, whose relevance to Indigenous communities was verified through community partners: water, energy, housing, telecommunications, and food systems; (c) assess the extent to which these 13 projects applied the principles of respectful research when working with Indigenous communities. Among the 13 projects identified, it is evident that some researchers in the fields of engineering, energy, and infrastructure are struggling and striving to engage respectfully with Indigenous communities. However, few include full details of their relationships and interactions with Indigenous communities in their published work. Conclusions These findings suggest a lack of details on respectful collaboration with Indigenous communities in technical literature. Gaps include a scarcity of evidence that Indigenous communities were involved in high-level decision-making or provided post-project feedback. Further work is needed to embed respectful research principles into the training, processes, and institutions of technical fields. This is essential to ensure ethical partnerships between technical researchers and Indigenous communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:17:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb7f4198cd4a4afe9534fc3282c9a708 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2192-0567 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:17:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy, Sustainability and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb7f4198cd4a4afe9534fc3282c9a7082023-02-05T12:20:03ZengBMCEnergy, Sustainability and Society2192-05672023-01-0113111510.1186/s13705-023-00382-8A review of collaborative research practices with Indigenous Peoples in engineering, energy, and infrastructure development in CanadaPia Dimayuga0Shakya Sur1Alex Choi2Heather L. Greenwood3Tracey Galloway4Amy M. Bilton5Reconciliation Through Engineering Initiative, Centre for Global Engineering, The University of TorontoReconciliation Through Engineering Initiative, Centre for Global Engineering, The University of TorontoReconciliation Through Engineering Initiative, Centre for Global Engineering, The University of TorontoReconciliation Through Engineering Initiative, Centre for Global Engineering, The University of TorontoDepartment of Anthropology, The University of Toronto MississaugaReconciliation Through Engineering Initiative, Centre for Global Engineering, The University of TorontoAbstract Background Indigenous Peoples in Canada have survived hundreds of years of colonization and systematic exploitation, including actions carried out in the pursuit of energy resources and infrastructure development in traditional Indigenous territories. Research has been a tool in this exploitation through its legacy of research ‘on’ rather than ‘with’ Indigenous Peoples. As societies grapple with reconciliation, including how to build partnerships for sustainable land and energy development, engineering and technical research must use respectful approaches that centre on Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Main text This preliminary review aims to be a step to address the lack of literature on respectful research with Indigenous Peoples within the context of engineering, energy, and infrastructure. To this end, we: (a) summarize three key frameworks that have been used in technical research projects for carrying out research respectfully, as defined by Indigenous and Indigenist ways of knowing and doing (Research is Ceremony, Two-Eyed Seeing, and doing research in a “Good Way”) and derive from them overarching principles; (b) identify a sample of 13 engineering, energy and infrastructure research projects that report using an Indigenous-centred approach. These relate to five technical areas, whose relevance to Indigenous communities was verified through community partners: water, energy, housing, telecommunications, and food systems; (c) assess the extent to which these 13 projects applied the principles of respectful research when working with Indigenous communities. Among the 13 projects identified, it is evident that some researchers in the fields of engineering, energy, and infrastructure are struggling and striving to engage respectfully with Indigenous communities. However, few include full details of their relationships and interactions with Indigenous communities in their published work. Conclusions These findings suggest a lack of details on respectful collaboration with Indigenous communities in technical literature. Gaps include a scarcity of evidence that Indigenous communities were involved in high-level decision-making or provided post-project feedback. Further work is needed to embed respectful research principles into the training, processes, and institutions of technical fields. This is essential to ensure ethical partnerships between technical researchers and Indigenous communities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-023-00382-8IndigenousReconciliationTwo-Eyed SeeingCollaborationInfrastructure developmentSustainable land use |
| spellingShingle | Pia Dimayuga Shakya Sur Alex Choi Heather L. Greenwood Tracey Galloway Amy M. Bilton A review of collaborative research practices with Indigenous Peoples in engineering, energy, and infrastructure development in Canada Energy, Sustainability and Society Indigenous Reconciliation Two-Eyed Seeing Collaboration Infrastructure development Sustainable land use |
| title | A review of collaborative research practices with Indigenous Peoples in engineering, energy, and infrastructure development in Canada |
| title_full | A review of collaborative research practices with Indigenous Peoples in engineering, energy, and infrastructure development in Canada |
| title_fullStr | A review of collaborative research practices with Indigenous Peoples in engineering, energy, and infrastructure development in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | A review of collaborative research practices with Indigenous Peoples in engineering, energy, and infrastructure development in Canada |
| title_short | A review of collaborative research practices with Indigenous Peoples in engineering, energy, and infrastructure development in Canada |
| title_sort | review of collaborative research practices with indigenous peoples in engineering energy and infrastructure development in canada |
| topic | Indigenous Reconciliation Two-Eyed Seeing Collaboration Infrastructure development Sustainable land use |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-023-00382-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT piadimayuga areviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT shakyasur areviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT alexchoi areviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT heatherlgreenwood areviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT traceygalloway areviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT amymbilton areviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT piadimayuga reviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT shakyasur reviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT alexchoi reviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT heatherlgreenwood reviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT traceygalloway reviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada AT amymbilton reviewofcollaborativeresearchpracticeswithindigenouspeoplesinengineeringenergyandinfrastructuredevelopmentincanada |