Matauranga tuku iho tikanga rangahau: traditional knowledge and research ethics conference.

• Author: Aspin, Clive

Throughout the world, indigenous communities are demanding more of a say in all aspects of research projects that involve them. This includes having a say over the design, implementation and evaluation of these projects. This approach is in marked contrast to research of indigenous peoples in the past, which typically studied and scrutinised indigenous peoples from paradigms that were foreign to the people being investigated. From the early days of colonisation and into the present, distorted views of Maori have been generated and disseminated by researchers who have come from outside the Maori community and brought western perspectives to the research process.

Most outside researchers do not consider the cultural practices or existing knowledge of indigenous communities and give little or nothing to indigenous communities in return for their contribution. Moreover, many make no effort to employ local people in any capacity, regardless of their abilities, or to compensate the individual participants, regardless of the risks or burdens associated with the research. There have been numerous cases where researchers have profited economically and professionally from research in indigenous communities but have treated the indigenous researchers as "informants" rather than as colleagues, allowing them to appropriate the work of the indigenous researchers as their own.

Nga Pae ote Maramatanga, National Institute of Research Excellence for Maori Development and Advancement, is one of seven centres of research excellence in New Zealand, and thus has a major responsibility to provide a venue in which past research initiatives can be scrutinised with a view to finding solutions that are in keeping with the needs and priorities of indigenous peoples in contemporary times. With this in mind, Nga Pae o te Maramatanga chose research ethics and traditional knowledge as the focal topics of their inaugural international conference, held at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington from 10-12 June 2004. (1)

All too often, research with indigenous communities is conducted in a way that is unethical and that is, therefore, detrimental to the needs and wellbeing of indigenous communities. An international conference that focused on the needs and perspectives of indigenous peoples, as identified by indigenous peoples themselves, was considered to be entirely appropriate for this foundational event.

Accordingly, the conference addressed several strands of work, including...