The role of participatory action research (PAR) in the emergence of self-determined Indigenous research responding to major societal issues

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been growing criticism that research has long been conducted ‘on’ Indigenous peoples rather than ‘with’ or ‘for’ them. In response to this, in 1999, Linda Tuhiwai Smith published a critical analysis of colonialism in Western research, arguing for the decolonisation of knowledge and the implementation of new co-constructed projects that respond to societal concerns, rely on methodologies rooted in local knowledge, and use participatory action research approaches. In a seven-year project (2010–17) in Nunavut, Canada, we adopted this approach, using participatory action research to co-construct research questions in collaboration with the Inuit community of Baker Lake (Qamani’tuaq) on issues that most concern them, such as mining impacts and youth future. This article discusses the TUKTU project, analysing its development and the advantages and limitations of Indigenous participatory action research, conceived and conducted by the people it concerns, and based on their vision of the world, valorising their knowledge and contributing to their empowerment.

Keywords

• participatory action research
• Inuit
• Arctic
• caribou
• mining impacts
• self-determination