Inuit perspectives on research ethics: The work of Inuit Nipingit

Abstract

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Reciprocal Inuit and Western research training: facilitating research capacity and community agency in Arctic research partnerships

“…37]. In the Canadian Arctic, the need for Inuit-specific research ethics is widely recognised [2] with a growing number of regional ethics boards, committees and guidelines providing direction [e.g. 38,39,40].…”

“…The workshops described here were designed and intended to affirm the premise of Canada’s federal research funding agencies in the TCPS2 guidelines for Aboriginal research “that engagement with community is an integral part of ethical research involving Aboriginal peoples” [4, p.111]. The workshops also sought to address concerns identified earlier by the National Inuit Committee on Ethics and Research [41], including respect for language and traditional knowledge, community empowerment, a focus on positive impacts for communities and regions, knowledge sharing between researchers and Inuit communities, regions and people and clarity about Inuit roles in research [2]. Indigenous ethical frameworks do not present the same rule-based ideas of morality that Western ethical frameworks do.…”

“…As the number of research projects in Inuit communities continues to rise [2], partnerships between these communities and academic researchers are becoming more collaborative and responsive to local priorities [3]. The need for Indigenous community involvement is explicitly addressed in the research licensing requirements in the 3 Canadian territories [3] and by Canada’s federal research granting agencies through the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2) [4], although many institutional barriers to such involvement persist.…”

“…The need for Indigenous community involvement is explicitly addressed in the research licensing requirements in the 3 Canadian territories [3] and by Canada’s federal research granting agencies through the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2) [4], although many institutional barriers to such involvement persist. Inuit communities are calling for participation at every research level for studies taking place in their regions [2,3]. While the Canadian International Polar Year research programme was an important step towards meeting this call with scientists, communities and Inuit and other Indigenous leaders working together on northern projects [5], its impact could have been more significant had there been a cohort of community-based trained research assistants available for deeper partnerships.…”

“…This finding was followed closely by “motivation, inspiration and empowerment for local partners”. Similarly, training or activities for researchers unfamiliar with Inuit regions or communities can improve cultural competencies and a shared understanding of research ethics that increase the likelihood of research success [2]. …”