Aboriginal antidiabetic plant project with the James Bay Cree of Québec

Abstract

Purpose -Research projects involving traditional knowledge are finding new ways of dealing with intellectual property rights and commercialisation. Influenced by calls for fair and equitable protocols involving access and benefit sharing regimes, researchers are developing new standards of practice. Here this paper aims to explore the process by which the CIHR Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicine (TAAM) came to address these issues within the scope of participatory action research. Design/methodology/approach -A case study method is applied in order to highlight key events and topics. The legally binding research agreement developed for this project is used to illustrate examples of how the needs of First Nations stakeholders and of researchers are met. Findings -The paper finds that strong research partnerships are characterized by accountability, adaptability, transparency, good and frequent communication and ultimately, trust. Researchers should be prepared to take a more "human" approach in their studies as the establishment of personal relationships are as important as the research itself. Proposals should include both monetary and intangible outcomes where possible, which reflect aboriginal culture and decision. Practical implications -This paper can help others to understand the needs of aboriginal peoples with regard to research. It also provides links to protocols and the legal research agreement used by TAAM that can serve as an adaptable template for future work. Originality/value -Publicising the research agreement and experiences herein is meant to contribute to a body of knowledge that will one day lead to new research norms when dealing with aboriginal peoples and traditional knowledge.

Our plants, our land: bridging aboriginal generations through cross-cultural plant workshops

“…Besides building positive relationships between Elders and youth as well as between communities and researchers, the primary legacies produced at both cross-cultural plant workshops include a collection of herbarium specimens and a summary workshop booklet for each community (Crewe and Johnstone 2010;Downing et al 2012). The creation of a local herbarium is an exercise of active learning that links scientific, cultural and local knowledge.…”

“…In this article, we discuss how workshops are ideal tools to assist in the transmission of both TK and scientific knowledge, and then present the outcomes of two cross-cultural plant workshops held in Old Crow (Yukon; Crewe and Jonhstone 2010) and Nain (Nunatsiavut; Downing et al 2012). The workshops also documented proper regional plant names and spelling, something that to date had not been done with these communities.…”

The Protection of Indigenous Peoples’ Seed Rights during Ethnobotanical Research

“…Special Issue on Ethics in Ethnobiology strengthened through rigorous documentation at the time seeds and/or plants are first collected. Community protocols can be addressed by any number of methods (Bannister 2008) and research agreements (Cuerrier et al 2012;Fediuk and Kuhnlein 2003;Scott and Receveur 1995). Records of agreements regarding ongoing rights to collected plant material should be documented and must accompany seed and plant specimen transfers, along with other formal research agreements with local communities and countries.…”

Les jardins botaniques : entre science et commercialisation

“…Toutefois, l'intérêt grandissant pour la médecine traditionnelle, en particulier pour les plantes médicinales, fait réapparaître un point sensible : les droits de propriété intellectuelle. Plusieurs groupes de recherche, liés ou non à des entreprises pharmaceutiques privées, misent sur la découverte de nouveaux principes actifs contre le cancer, le diabète ou toute autre maladie, à partir des données ethnobotaniques (Lewis, 2003 ;Cuerrier et al, 2012 (Williams et al, 2006) qui exhorte les jardins à se munir de principes en accord avec ceux de la Convention sur la diversité biologique et notamment, avec son 3 e objectif, l'accès aux ressources génétiques et le partage juste et équitable des avantages liés à leur utilisation (APA) décliné dans le protocole de Nagoya (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2011). Sur le plan international, des associations, comme l'International Society of Ethnobiology (2006), cherchent aussi à sensibiliser les chercheurs et les populations locales au travail et au commerce éthiques lorsqu'ils touchent à la biodiversité.…”