This timely and engaging volume brings together eight remarkable, leading, and emerging Indigenous scholars from various fields in conversation with author Jimena Marquez to critically assess the state of Indigenist research in a post-Truth and Reconciliation Commission era. Through ten thematically organized chapters, Marquez uses a multigenerational dialogical lens to explore what work has been done over the last decade, what shifts are taking place now, what's in store for the future of the field, and who should take on this valuable work and how they can be held accountable to Indigenous communities. Topics include the core principles of Indigenist research, intellectual integrity, identity-shifting strategies still present in academia, and the consequences of misguided approaches. Through these candid conversations, students and researchers will get a rare view into the complexities of decolonial scholarship and the responsibilities it entails. Woven together and contextualized by Marquez, the discussions converge on a shared direction forward and offer a tool for critical reflexivity to support readers in decolonizing their own research practices. Designed to be accessible and thought-provoking, this is an ideal resource for students beginning their journey into Indigenous research methodologies, as well as for student researchers who might already have an Indigenist project in mind.
Jimena Marquez is a multidisciplinary Mexican/Canadian scholar. She has over ten years of teaching experience, most recently in the Indigenous Studies program at McGill University. She received her PhD from the University of Ottawa. Her research focused on Indigenous Canadian scholarship across disciplines, looking specifically at Indigenous Epistemologies and Methodologies and the crucial role that positionality plays in Indigenist research. She is currently the Assistant Director in charge of developing culturally relevant programs for Nunavik at Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, the Inuit school board in charge of Inuit education in Northern Quebec.
List of Figures and Tables Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: Journeys into Indigenist Research Chapter 2: The Importance of Relationships in Indigenist Research Chapter 3: Indigenist Methodologies Chapter 4: When Relationships Are Missing from Indigenist Research Chapter 5: Discussing Explicit Positionality with Indigenous Scholars Chapter 6: The Hidden Self: Distorted and Appropriated Positionalities Chapter 7: Protecting Indigenous Knowledge from Distortion Chapter 8: The Evolution of Indigenist Research within Academic Milieux Chapter 9: Strategies to Assure the Integrity of Indigenist Research Chapter 10: In Conversation with Non-Indigenous Scholars Conclusion Afterword Recommended Readings References Author and Contributor Biographies
