The purpose of this course is to consider research, methodologies, and ways of knowing with, and alongside, Indigenous approaches. Consideration and comparison of Indigenous ways of knowing and learning will include perspectives from within Turtle Island (North America), and in other corners of the world.

The course will first focus on an introduction to the idea of Indigenous research and methodologies and why they are important to understand when doing work with Indigenous peoples, communities, and nations. Following this, we will then consider the important question of how we know what we know and the complexities of bias in research.

Following such discussions, the course will then consider and assess the implications of qualitative and quantitative research. How do both overshadow the full story when solely done in our western academic training? How do components of both may or may not mesh with Indigenous ways of knowing? How does using such research and its findings, alongside Indigenous concepts, contribute to forms of reclamation? These are just a couple of questions we will delve into.

Additionally, through the other weeks of the course we will also consider the importance of situating oneself in research for Indigenous people and how storytelling can mesh and be a part of Indigenous ways of knowing and doing research. This all contributes not only to cultural understandings but also how it is all intertwined when considering Indigenous ways of knowing and research. Lastly, we will utilize all that we have considered and learned about to broach and discuss the implications and importance of data sovereignty.