27 March 2025 | 13:30 - 15:30 (MDT)
Open Session - HYBRID
Room: UMC Third Floor - 384
Organisers: Andréanne Robitaille (Aurora Research Institute, Canada); Antonia Lafferty; Anita Lafferty
Session Description:
This session seeks to explore ethical research practices in the development and implementation of community-based action research (CBAR) with youth, trying to do it " in a good way". Researchers conducting such studies face several documented challenges and dilemmas. Specifically, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the integration of Indigenous knowledge, care ethics, and research ethics into CBAR initiatives. We aim to contribute to this reflection by sharing lived experiences from a project conducted in the Northwest Territories from 2022 to 2025, entitled "Spark Inspiration". This CBAR initiative focuses on understanding how to inspire northern and Indigenous youth (grades 8-12) to pursue careers in northern health and social services. This case study is particularly noteworthy because the project took place within a community college in a vast territory that spans 500,000 square miles and has an estimated population of approximately 45,000 people. The area is home to various Indigenous groups, including the Dene, Gwich'in, Inuvialuit, Métis, and other First Nations. This college, like many educational institutions in Canada, has historical and ongoing ties to colonial practices that impact and marginalize Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. As such, any initiative within such institutions must approach its work with sensitivity, humility, and a commitment to decolonizing practices that support Indigenous self-determination and sovereignty. The research team included social science and education researchers, nursing students, Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members, and nursing faculty. This diverse composition enriched the depth of the project. Indigenous knowledge systems, care ethics, and foundational research ethics principles intertwined to guide and shape the development of the project. Key themes such as trauma-informed approaches, community consent, confidentiality, inclusivity, and accountability were central to the process. In this session, we will discuss how these ethical considerations were navigated and integrated into the CBAR process, highlighting lessons learned, challenges faced, and implications for researchers, the community involved, and research outcomes.