Upon completing coursework, I began the pilot research, which involved consultation with Duane Mark to carefully consider appropriate individuals to speak with, and ways in which I could learn from them given my desire to research in ways that considered both cultural and physical safety (this work began in summer 2020 during the early North American outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when little was known about transmission). We decided that I should speak to both Elders and Îethka professionals who worked with research and knowledge gathering. As interviews progressed, some of these individuals were asked to serve as advisors to the project. Individuals were asked based their stated interest in the interview process. I received approval from the University of Calgary’s Research Ethics Board for the pilot. During the subsequent 15 months, I met several times with ten Îethka community members (in person and online), attended events, and discussed the project informally with community members at every opportunity.  

 

The interview conversations I had with Îethka community members were based around a set of guiding questions, but also my knowledge of the individual, their role in museum and heritage work, or their positionality regarding museums that they had previously made clear to me. These interviews provided an opportunity to explicitly discuss research in the Îethka community, appropriate methods, and desired outcomes for a research project. After these discussions were concluded, I proposed a research framework. I then presented the framework back to the community members I had spoken with, incorporated their suggestions. Throughout the process, I regularly checked in with Duane Mark and to a lesser degree, Adrian Wolfleg, for their guidance, to keep them abreast of my progress, and for assistance with protocol. The information gained throughout the pilot, combined with lessons learned from over ten years of working with Îethka communities, previous research and reading in museum engagement with Indigenous people, and experiences working with Îethka and Niitsitapi through my professional museum practice, provide the direction for this work and the following collaborative, co-developed methodological framework.

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Here is the document I circulated to the interview participants, with their requested changes added: Pilot Results 

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Here is a document we developed together that is an agreement I am making to the community to act in responsible ways as a researcher. This is a living document, and I will update it as I learn: Accountability Framework

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Here is a possible guide for respectful research with Îethka communities that researchers could use as part of their journey of collaboration with the community: Research Framework

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If you have feedback or concerns about any of these, please let me know.