Reflecting on micro‐ethics to center the voices of Aboriginal peoples experiencing homelessness

Abstract

AbstractThis article shares the micro‐ethical lessons from those researching alongside Aboriginal people experiencing homelessness and Aboriginal Elders in Perth, Western Australia. The article is written from the perspective of the first and second author who are two non‐Aboriginal researchers being mentored in Aboriginal culture. From this positioning, it offers reflections and practical insights into researching “in the right spirit” with Aboriginal communities. More specifically, it shares lessons in negotiating community roles within community‐driven research, the importance in forming relationship with Aboriginal culture as antidote to research fatigue, practical ways to work with Aboriginal communities when they have a history of being exploited in research, navigating fair and ethical payment for involvement, and ways to clearly communicate research with them. It also shares the cultural importance and benefits of working closely with Aboriginal Elders when engaging in research with Aboriginal communities, including their ability to better negotiate project scope with community, and the value in making sense of the research findings alongside them.