Epilogue

Abstract

According to Contemporary Nurse Journal, 'the goal of running special issues in Contemporary Nurse Journal is to provide a coher- ent outlet for high quality research in a coherent thematic area of topical or practical significance'. Special editions represent a convenient reservoir of research, easily accessible to those interested in the field. When preparing papers for this special edition it was remarkable how often papers from the previous 2011 special edition, 'Advances in Contemporary Indigenous Health Care (2nd ed.) Vol. 37/1' featured in our literature searches. Across diverse databases, papers from that single edition recurred and recurred in search results. Reflecting upon this made us realise that this cur- rent special edition will serve several purposes. As intended by Contemporary Nurse Journal, spe- cial editions amalgamate papers under a theme. However, special editions also unite a community of scholars working towards a common goal. In this case, the voices of Indigenous researchers have been combined, privileged and amplified.A particular source of editorial pride stems from the fact that the majority of papers in this special edition were authored or co-authored by Indigenous scholars. The volume of Indigenous- led research scholarship in Australia is steadily increasing, as Indigenous communities move beyond being researched upon, to increasing self- determination and self direction, taking control of our own research agenda. Having an Indigenous editorial team in a mainstream journal, further contributes to Indigenous perspectives shaping the contemporary health care landscape. In this edi- tion of Contemporary Nurse Journal, the vibrant nature of Indigenous-led research is highly evident. Indigenous scholars are increasingly cultivating an Indigenous research community, who in turn are establishing and refining Indigenous methodolo- gies building a specific Indigenous knowledge base.Since colonisation, research into Indigenous health has evolved from research on our people devoid of reciprocity, to research about, and even- tually with our people. Moreover, it is now time for non-Indigenous researchers to recognise the unique knowledge that Indigenous scholars hold in regards to Indigenous health research and embrace an inclusive Indigenous-led, collaborative model. The idea of Indigenous health research being pre- dominately in the domain of Indigenous research- ers could be unsettling for some, as it requires an appreciation for Indigenous world views. …