Arts-based research methods with indigenous peoples: an international scoping review

Abstract

Research with indigenous peoples worldwide carries long histories of exploitation, distorted representation, and theft. New “indigenizing” methodologies centre the production of knowledge around the processes and knowledges of indigenous communities. Creative research methods involving artistic practices—such as photovoice, journaling, digital storytelling, dance, and theatre—may have a place within these new approaches, but their applications have yet to be systematically explored. We conducted a scoping review of 36 international research studies literature on arts-based research with indigenous peoples. The majority of studies used photovoice and were conducted in Canada, USA, Australia, or New Zealand. We identify five primary fields in which arts-based methods may offer benefit to an indigenous research agenda: (a) participant engagement, (b) relationship building, (c) indigenous knowledge creation, (d) capacity building, and (e) community action. We propose several opportunities to further explore arts-based methods with indigenous peoples.

THEATRE MARAE: Māori theatre pedagogy in research

“…Although ABR remains underutilised in psychological research (Chamberlain et al, 2018), it has a well-documented history in community-based programmes, creative arts therapy and education programmes, and as a platform from which marginalised groups have voiced their struggles and aspirations to mainstream society. Recently, ABR has become a popular approach in Indigenous-centred participatory action research, as it allows communities to study phenomena of their choosing in their ecological context (Hammond et al, 2018). The creative practices used for gathering, analysing and disseminating data can also align with a global decolonising agenda to facilitate knowledge sharing between Indigenous groups, instead of restricting it to academic audiences and journal articles (Gergen & Gergen, 2018;Hammond et al, 2018;Napoli, 2019;Smith, 2012).…”

“…Recently, ABR has become a popular approach in Indigenous-centred participatory action research, as it allows communities to study phenomena of their choosing in their ecological context (Hammond et al, 2018). The creative practices used for gathering, analysing and disseminating data can also align with a global decolonising agenda to facilitate knowledge sharing between Indigenous groups, instead of restricting it to academic audiences and journal articles (Gergen & Gergen, 2018;Hammond et al, 2018;Napoli, 2019;Smith, 2012).…”

Place of Strength: Indigenous Artists and Indigenous Knowledge is Prevention Science

“…The broader implications of PoS show how the practices of “art” and other forms of Indigenous knowledge creation exist in Native communities as ways of envisioning, documenting, and reflecting on people's collective or individual journeys, through unique cultural forms. In a comprehensive review of arts‐based research with Indigenous communities, photovoice and digital storytelling were the dominant visual methods utilized (Hammond et al., ); however, no literature demonstrated collaboration with Indigenous local artists as evaluators nor implementation of traditional artistic knowledge as the method for program evaluation. PoS is a model for re‐conceptualizing Indigenous evaluation utilizing Native artists as documenters and their art as the measure of impact.…”

“…Art has served as a health intervention (Nykiforuk, Vallianatos, & Nieuwendyk, ; Staricoff, ), but, within the framework of participatory research, has also been applied as a method for data collection, analysis, and dissemination (Hammond et al., ; Lafrenière & Cox, ; Wang, Coemans, Siegesmund, & Hannes, ). Art as a research tool, including visual and performative methods, can incorporate marginalized voices, reflect lived experiences, and generate local knowledge in culturally relevant ways (Bergold & Thomas, ; D'Amico, Denov, Khan, Linds, & Akesson, ; Hammond et al., ; McKenna & Woods, ; Williams et al., ). Perhaps most significantly, artistic creations increase accessibility of knowledge production and its benefits within Indigenous communities (Hammond et al., ).…”

“…Art as a research tool, including visual and performative methods, can incorporate marginalized voices, reflect lived experiences, and generate local knowledge in culturally relevant ways (Bergold & Thomas, ; D'Amico, Denov, Khan, Linds, & Akesson, ; Hammond et al., ; McKenna & Woods, ; Williams et al., ). Perhaps most significantly, artistic creations increase accessibility of knowledge production and its benefits within Indigenous communities (Hammond et al., ).…”