‘Listening is a good place to start’: Arts & Science symposium explores Indigenous research ethics

By: David Goldberg

Students, faculty and staff gathered for the A&S Indigenous Research Ethics Symposium recently in New College’s William Doo Auditorium.

Presented by the Dean's Advisory Committee on Indigenous Research, Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Arts & Science — in partnership with the university’s Indigenous Research Network — the symposium addressed the university’s commitment to, “invest in education on what constitutes ethical research with Indigenous people” within the University’s broader commitment to reconciliation.

These efforts are shaped by the Calls to Action of the Decanal Working Group on Indigenous Teaching and Learning, and the steering committee for U of T’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

“Together, we are guiding our faculty toward the transformation needed to foster a vibrant Indigenous research presence at Arts & Science,” says Interim Dean Stephen Wright. “We are encouraged by progress that has been made, but we acknowledge there is so much more work to do.”

Honouring Indigenous perspectives in research

Professor Eileen Antone, the Dean's Special Advisor on Indigenous Affairs, and an esteemed Knowledge Keeper from the Oneida of the Thames First Nation — Turtle Clan, delivered a traditional Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, setting the stage for A&S faculty members to reflect on how academics can ensure that all research is grounded in reciprocity, respect and care.

A series of panel discussions examined the importance of understanding that Indigenous knowledge frameworks recognize the sacred interconnectedness of land, water, and sky relations, and recognizing the centrality of Indigenous languages as sources of knowledge.

“Research isn't a new thing for Indigenous people,” says Centre for Indigenous Studies and Department of History Associate Professor Susan Hill, who is a member of Mohawk Nation — Wolf Clan, and director of the Centre for Indigenous Studies. “There is an ancient legacy of research that exists outside of most of what we do in the academy.”

Drawing from her own collaborative experiences with Indigenous research, Associate Professor Heather Dorries with the Department of Geography & Planning and the Centre for Indigenous Studies stressed the importance of co-developing research projects based on community interests, needs, protocols and sustained, transparent engagement.

“True collaboration requires patience because it often happens on a timeline very different from university life,” says Dorries, who is of Anishinaabe and settler ancestry and a member of Sagkeeng First Nation. “Grant cycles and publications do not often align with work done in the community.”

Dorries recalls attending a meeting of Indigenous women in Moose Factory, Ont., as a graduate student. She was frantically taking notes when an elder placed a hand on hers and warmly said, “You can just listen.”

“Listening is a very good place to start,” says Dorries. “But that's not where you should end.”

The symposium’s speakers emphasized that we need to reimagine academic-community partnerships, noting that scientific research on Indigenous lands often lacks meaningful engagement with Indigenous peoples, whose knowledge systems emphasize interconnectedness that extends beyond institutional research ethics.

“It's not about collecting data, it's about learning from one another and listening and seeing how we can help each other,” says Jaime Grimm, a PhD candidate in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, who is of western European and Manitoba Saulteaux heritage.

Fighting for Indigenous languages

After an examination of the vital role of Indigenous languages in preserving and sharing knowledge, Ronald E. Ignace, Canada's inaugural commissioner of Indigenous languages, and Karihwakè:ron Tim Thompson, a language revitalization advocate, held a fireside chat. They discussed the protection of these languages on a national level.

“We don't have the same rights as French or English language communities. If we want our kids educated in an Indigenous language, there is no explicit law that enables that,” says Thompson, a member of Mohawk Nation.

The conversation revealed the ongoing political nature of language revitalization efforts.

Ignace stressed that legislative recognition alone — like Canada’s Indigenous Languages Act of 2019 — won’t create the broader systemic changes needed.

“It is what we as Indigenous peoples, Canadians and governments collectively, do with that legislation that will lead to transformative change,” says Ignace, a member of Secwépemc Nation. “And it will, bring Canada a step closer to a country that's great and good.”

Meagan Hamilton, managing director of the Indigenous Research Network and a member of the Mohawk Nation — Turtle Clan, shared that the symposium, “Provided an important opportunity for Indigenous scholars to exchange experiences and approaches to community-led research, grounded in relationship-building, respect, reciprocity and care, and to discuss the barriers that institutional systems continue to create for ethical Indigenous research."

Antone, who opened and closed the symposium, reflected on the day's discussions and their significance for future generations.

“All of these issues are so important to our children, making sure that the Indigenous perspectives are continued in our communities,” she said. “Because we didn't disappear. We're still here.”

This story was first published by the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science.