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Table 2 Collaboration

From: Fostering the conduct of ethical and equitable research practices: the imperative for integrated knowledge translation in research conducted by and with indigenous community members

Questions Aimed at Researchers

Recommendations

Why is research important anyway?

• People being invited to be part of research usually want to know why researchers are interested in the research, and to share in these reasons together.

• People have different views on how research will improve peoples’ lives. People must make their view(s) clear and transparent from the beginning of any research process.

• People need to feel safe to be able to talk and share their experiences and knowledge. To share experiences and knowledge, people need to be clear on and understand their partners’ reasons for the research, and what it is that people can accomplish together, in the research.

Why not use the soft moccasin approach?

• The soft moccasin approach is about building relationships and bridging cultural differences. This approach has no room for a person of authority, only people who want to work in partnership.

Why don’t researchers stay around long enough to be part of some type of change from the research?

• We need to discuss with researchers how implementing change can start before the project timeline is finished.

• Researchers need to ask how they can be actively involved in sharing with the community. While academics get recognized for acquiring research grants and publishing papers, they need to consider how they can give back to the community and what they can meaningfully offer to community partners.

• Researchers need to incorporate and consider how end-of-project findings are communicated in ways that directly benefit the community.