Researcher Perspectives of Power and Empowerment in Indigenous Community-Based Research

Abstract

Community-based research (CBR), a methodology which aims to shift power dynamics and empower research participants for social justice ends, has gained significant credibility and popularity in recent decades for research involving Indigenous peoples and communities. However, the concepts of power and empowerment are not well-explained in existing CBR literature, with limited description of what power hierarchies in research are, what it means to challenge them, and what it means to empower participants. This is the first study to explore these concepts in-depth through interviews with researchers. As well as contributing a pragmatic overview of many of the understandings and strategies that researchers use in empowerment-focused CBR projects, this research also questions some assumptions underlying researchers’ perspectives to contribute to ongoing critical discussion. As an exploratory case study, rather than defending a particular hypothesis, this research will serve as a foundation for future investigation into power and empowerment in research.This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Mitacs, and The University of Winnipeg.Master of Arts in Environmental and Social Chang