Grounded in country: Perspectives on working within, alongside and for Aboriginal communities

Jackson-Barrett, E.ORCID: 0000-0002-3662-657X, Price, A.ORCID: 0000-0002-5925-1133, Stomski, N. and Walker, B.F.ORCID: 0000-0002-8506-6740 (2015) Grounded in country: Perspectives on working within, alongside and for Aboriginal communities. Issues in Educational Research, 25 (1). pp. 36-49.

Abstract

This paper presents the experiences of four researchers working within, alongside and for the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The focus of the research was a health and education needs analysis of Gumala Aboriginal Corporation members that would inform future education and health planning in the region. The research project was a collaboration between the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation, Rio Tinto and Murdoch University. The research comprised a combination of paper and pen surveys, interviews, focus groups and meetings with elders. What we learned about researching in Indigenous contexts through these experiences is the focus of this paper. Building on Indigenous research methodologies, theories and ways of being and doing, we explore the need to be build trust and relationships, respect Indigenous protocols, understand what it means to be ‘on country’ and perhaps most importantly to learn to sit and listen. Based on our research and experiences, this paper discusses key elements of the emerging ‘grounded in country’ framework we are developing in response to our experiences.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Education
Publisher:	Institutes for Educational Research
Copyright:	© 2015 Issues In Educational Research
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/26061

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