Indigenous Stakeholders Research Articles

The contributions of nature to people within the Yawuru Indigenous Protected Area

Managers of Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) may need to communicate the value provided by their protected area to indigenous and nonindigenous stakeholders, especially if a political focus on maximizing economic opportunities conflicts with traditional priorities. To facilitate this process, we used the latest Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services conceptual framework and the IPA plan of management to identify the diverse ways that nature contributes to people in the Yawuru IPA (Western Australia). 68 out of 144 of the IPA management objectives related directly to ecosystem goods and services of which 65 are nonmaterial, 35 material, and 24 regulating (some services overlap). As a guide for management to assess relevant contributions, we identified valuation methods applicable to the IPA's wetlands and found that a wide range of options are available to assess ecosystem value. We also performed a detailed assessment of fresh water flow over the IPA.

Indigenous tourism in Australia: understanding the link between cultural heritage and intention to participate using the means-end chain theory

ABSTRACTTourism is often suggested as a development strategy for Indigenous people while protecting their cultural and natural heritage. However, without actual visitor participation, the good intentions of tourism cannot be achieved. By using the means-end chain theory and adopting a convergent mixed-methods approach using photographs, this study seeks to identify the link between visitor perceptions about Australian Indigenous tourism attributes and their intention to participate on this type of tourism. Two Australian Indigenous tourism activities (short tour and performance), portraying both traditional and contemporary culture, at Cairns, Queensland were tested with 209 visitors. The results reveal that the attributes ‘history/art/culture’ and ‘local’ are perceptions linked to Indigenous tourism. The findings support previous studies by identifying that some participants associated Indigenous tourism with a traditional past; however, the majority of participants expressed a contemporary perception of Indigenous culture. These findings highlight the need for Indigenous tourism stakeholders to monitor and protect their historical and evolving cultural heritage (in particular intangible heritage) when engaging in Indigenous tourism. Cultural heritage could be susceptible to commodification and loss of authenticity in order to accommodate visitor expectations.

Indigenous Data Governance: Strategies from United States Native Nations.

Data have become the new global currency, and a powerful force in making decisions and wielding power. As the world engages with open data, big data reuse, and data linkage, what do data-driven futures look like for communities plagued by data inequities? Indigenous data stakeholders and non-Indigenous allies have explored this question over the last three years in a series of meetings through the Research Data Alliance (RDA). Drawing on RDA and other gatherings, and a systematic scan of literature and practice, we consider possible answers to this question in the context of Indigenous peoples vis-á-vis two emerging concepts: Indigenous data sovereignty and Indigenous data governance. Specifically, we focus on the data challenges facing Native nations and the intersection of data, tribal sovereignty, and power. Indigenous data sovereignty is the right of each Native nation to govern the collection, ownership, and application of the tribe’s data. Native nations exercise Indigenous data sovereignty through the interrelated processes of Indigenous data governance and decolonizing data. This paper explores the implications of Indigenous data sovereignty and Indigenous data governance for Native nations and others. We argue for the repositioning of authority over Indigenous data back to Indigenous peoples. At the same time, we recognize that there are significant obstacles to rebuilding effective Indigenous data systems and the process will require resources, time, and partnerships among Native nations, other governments, and data agents.

Exploring Media Coverage of the 2017 World Indigenous Nations Games and North American Indigenous Games: A Critical Discourse Analysis

This study examines how Indigenous voices were represented in Canadian mainstream media coverage of the two international Indigenous sporting events hosted in Canada in 2017. A critical discourse analysis guided by the concept of Settler Colonialism reveals that mainstream media provided some opportunities for Indigenous stakeholders to bring issues facing their communities to the attention of the Canadian public. The tensions and challenges identified by Indigenous stakeholders included stereotypes of non-Indigenous people, identity struggles within Indigenous communities, a lack of resources and opportunities for Indigenous youth, the vulnerability of Indigenous women, and the difficulty for Indigenous sporting achievements to be acknowledged. Although these struggles were associated with issues such as the legacy of assimilation policies, the lack of education on relevant topics in school, and other socioeconomic barriers within many Indigenous communities, the discourse stops short of questioning the legitimacy of the Canadian settler state.

Inclusive higher education governance: managing stakeholders, strategy, structure and function

ABSTRACTIndigenous higher education governance is a fundamental element of diversity, equality and inclusivity at universities with significant indigenous student populations or stakeholder communities. Management approaches to establish inclusive governance mechanisms are complex and little guidance exists to support university managers to establish indigenous advisory councils. We document the creation of a university indigenous advisory council incorporating 11 indigenous nationalities. We assess the outcomes of that establishment process with the analytical lenses of participation and inclusion; accountability and rule of law; non-discrimination and equality; transparency; and mutual trust and respect. This study provides higher education policy researchers and university managers and with a clear roadmap to establish robust indigenous university governance. In doing so, we aim to empower indigenous leaders to create positive impact in higher education, contributing to high quality education and research for indigenous students and communities.

Preparing and Developing Leaders for Indigenous-Serving Schools via the Holistic Blessing of POLLEN's Leadership Tree

Faculty in a flagship university in the U.S. Southwest collaborated with Indigenous stakeholders to design and implement an educational leadership program for aspiring leaders of Indigenous-serving schools. This study explores the perceptions of participants in that leadership program. The study utilizes data collected through an external program evaluation that employed focus group interviews with graduate students and interviews with faculty. Data were collected and analyzed in a process of coding and generating themes. Results indicate that the educational leadership program for Indigenous students was most useful and relevant when centered on social/relational content, linked to spiritual/cultural roots, in harmony with Indigenous wisdom, and grounded in place and well-being. The lessons learned sustained the project through enrollment of three cohorts and may have broader implications for funders who wish to support leadership programs for longer-term influence, as well as universities who aim to make a greater investment in their Indigenous communities.

Interculturalism and socio-economic development of Indigenous islander populations: The case of the Kuna Yala

Many Indigenous islander populations in Latin America and the Caribbean have been facing high levels of poverty and widespread economic and social exclusion. Based on a case study approach, this paper proposes the concept of interculturalism as a means toward collaboration between Indigenous islander communities and non-Indigenous stakeholders, to influence the Indigenous islander communities’ socio-economic development. The study focuses on the Indigenous people of the autonomous Kuna Yala region of San Blas in Panama and explores how intercultural principles and characteristics could contribute to a cross-cultural dialogue between the Kuna people and external stakeholders, and to the socio-economic growth through tourism development in the Kuna region. Considering that certain aspects related to the Kuna culture are of a compound and complex nature, mutual trust and awareness, intercultural understanding and dialogue are critical in this process.

Enhanced primary mental healthcare for Indigenous Australians: service implementation strategies and perspectives of providers

BackgroundImproving access to culturally appropriate mental healthcare has been recognised as a key strategy to address the often greater burden of mental health issues experienced by Indigenous populations. We present data from the evaluation of a national attempt at improving access to culturally appropriate mental healthcare for Indigenous Australians through a mainstream primary mental healthcare program, the Access to Allied Psychological Services program, whilst specifically focusing on the implementation strategies and perspectives of service providers.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 31 service providers (primary care agency staff, referrers, and mental health professionals) that were analysed thematically and descriptively.ResultsAgency-level implementation strategies to enhance service access and cultural appropriateness included: the conduct of local service needs assessments; Indigenous stakeholder consultation and partnership development; establishment of clinical governance frameworks; workforce recruitment, clinical/cultural training and supervision; stakeholder and referrer education; and service co-location at Indigenous health organisations. Dedicated provider-level strategies to ensure the cultural appropriateness of services were primarily aimed at the context and process of delivery (involving, flexible referral pathways, suitable locations, adaptation of client engagement and service feedback processes) and, to a lesser extent, the nature and content of interventions (provision of culturally adapted therapy).ConclusionsThis study offers insights into key factors underpinning the successful national service implementation approach. Study findings highlight that concerted national attempts to enhance mainstream primary mental healthcare for Indigenous people are critically dependent on effective local agency- and provider-level strategies to optimise the integration, adaptation and broader utility of these services within local Indigenous community and healthcare service contexts. Despite the explicit provider focus, this study was limited by a lack of Indigenous stakeholder perspectives. Key study findings are of direct relevance to inform the future implementation and delivery of culturally appropriate primary mental healthcare programs for Indigenous populations in Australia and internationally.

Ensuring Indigenous cultural respect in Australian undergraduate nursing students

ABSTRACTLike other Westernised countries, Australia’s history of colonisation, racism and oppression has impacted upon Indigenous Peoples’ health and well-being. It is also evident that institutional racism and ongoing colonisation are present in the Australian health system. Better preparation of health professionals to work in a culturally respectful way can contribute to addressing health disparities and prejudices. One approach to enabling the development of cultural respect is through embedding an Indigenous graduate attribute (IGA) across curricula and ensuring the process is thoughtfully developed and assessed. This paper describes and discusses the process of developing an assessment criteria template (ACT) to assess Indigenous cultural respect in an undergraduate nursing degree programme. Critical to the project was meaningful engagement with Indigenous stakeholders and Indigenous leadership to inform the development and implementation process. Although the context will vary globally due to the diversity of Indigenous Peoples and each country’s history of colonisation, by publishing this work, we intend to provide transparency into the process we undertook to embed and assess an IGA ACT in an undergraduate nursing curriculum. We hope this is helpful for other tertiary institutions internationally who are also engaging in this space.

Analisis Persepsi Masyarakat Kawasan Adat Amma Toa Kajang Terhadap Muhammadiyah

Abstract. This research uses field research (field research) with qualitative method. The subject of this research is with Indigenous Stakeholder, Village Apparatus, Community Leader, Religious Leader, Youth Leader, Academician and Kader Muhammadiyah who are domiciled in Adat area. Data collection by observation method, data writing method, technical data, data presentation and data recall. Triangulation is done to explain the validity of the data by using source and method triangulation. The results showed that the interaction of cadres and indigenous peoples is a positive and harmonious relationship, primary and secondary social contact because both parties are mutually understanding, profitable and long-standing cooperation. Conflicts that occur between the cadres and indigenous communities are still entangled lightly and only temporary. Indigenous people's perception of Amma Toa to Muhammadiyah is positive and negative, but still tend to Negative. It is caused by perceptions based on experience, efaluatif, contextual, selective and care. The perception of Amma Toa to Muahammadiyah is caused by internal and external factors. Factors factors that make individual perceptions different from each other and will be oriented to the individual in perceiving an object.Keywords: Pasang Rikajang, Gender, Social Culture

Collaborative freshwater planning: changing roles for science and scientists

ABSTRACTCollaborative approaches to freshwater planning are increasingly popular. In principle, collaborative processes allow wider access to all forms of knowledge, referencing the socio-ecological system and stakeholder values. Relevant science must be more broadly defined. Here we explore how the roles and skillsets of scientists and the nature of science knowledge differ in collaborative freshwater planning compared to traditional consultative processes, to assist those designing and participating in such processes. Our observations are drawn from interviews with scientists, policy planners, facilitators and an indigenous adviser from project teams managing collaborative processes in four regions of New Zealand. Results indicate that the role of the scientist in a collaborative process is less top-down informer, and more facilitator of learning. Thus ‘front-room’ scientists involved in collaborative planning processes require a broader skill set than those required for a traditional consultative process. Humility and an ability to see other participants’ points of view are traits facilitating successful engagement with indigenous groups and stakeholders. More science is needed on social, economic and cultural values. Risk and uncertainty can be tested using scenarios. Employing a wider range of science disciplines and scientists who act as integrators enables a greater sharing of local and indigenous knowledge even though such knowledge cannot always be tested or modelled.

Indigenous Peoples' Concerns About Loss of Forest Knowledge: Implications for Forest Management

Although indigenous populations' participatory rights are recognised as a worldwide priority in forest management, local practices vary in interpretation, scope, and efficacy. The next generation of sustainable forest policies will require a greater degree of self-determination from indigenous groups (i.e., the ability for use, ownership, management, and control of their traditional lands and resources). Our case study provides insights into how an indigenous population, the Baka in Cameroon, face barriers to participation in policy making, hindering recognition of rights to traditional forestland. The Baka interviewed herein expressed concern for how forest management impacts their livelihoods, threatens traditional ecological knowledge, and limits self-determination. Educational opportunities may provide co-benefits for indigenous stakeholders in forest management. To motivate indigenous inclusion specifically in forest management, we recommend educating forest managers in cultural competency and the importance of indigenous inclusion and knowledge. We recommend development of Baka educational programmes that are focused on promoting greater self-determination and enriching understanding of the forest management processes. These findings would help develop better relationships between indigenous peoples and forest management worldwide.

Using the Washoe Language to Inform Hydrologic and Environmental Models.

Article impact statement: Listening to indigenous stakeholders, in their language, can improve the quality and impact of hydrologic and environmental models.

From Cognitive Maps to Transparent Static Web Maps: Tools for Indigenous Territorial Control in La Muskitia, Honduras

As indigenous groups claim a fundamental role in the governance and management of the territories they inhabit, the evolution of digital and Web-based maps continues to offer tools that support these activities, while demonstrating to state governments, educators, and others the distinct indigenous concepts and practices inscribed on the Earth's surface. However, making map vector files available to the public can be problematic, because the indigenous stakeholders and their academic colleagues must relinquish control of how the data are displayed by the end user. The indigenous Miskitu, Tawahka, and Pech of Honduras, with university-based geographers, are developing a solution for keeping the original and intended design: transparent static maps (overlays) created in a GIS and made publicly viewable as raster tiles over a free virtual globe. The pioneering Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve participatory research mapping (PRM) project produced and published large-scale paper maps of the communities and their land use in and around the reserve in 1998–1999. Due to their limited circulation and use, and requests from indigenous authorities for the information they contained, in 2010 indigenous Miskitu and Tawahka leaders and University of Kansas geographers agreed to convert them to digital format for use in the long-term management of their lands, digitizing the PRM hard copy maps into GIS vector files first by 2012, and then finally to Web-based transparent static maps in 2013–2014. The PRM mapping experiences parallel contemporaneous shifts in political and territorial strategies among Honduras' indigenous peoples.

Ifugao Archaeology

ABSTRACTRecent trends in the practice of archaeology have seen the emergence of the active involvement of stakeholders in the research process. This is an important development, given that the relationship between archaeologists and the communities that they work with has been tenuous, particularly when archaeological findings contest ethnic identities. As a case in point, the findings of the Ifugao Archaeological Project (Philippines) question the bases of Ifugao identity. Ifugao identity is centered on wet-rice production and resistance to colonialism. Previously, the dating of the inception of the Ifugao rice terraces was placed at 2,000 years ago. The findings of the Ifugao Archaeological Project (IAP), however, suggest that the construction of the terraces coincided with the arrival of the Spanish in the northern Philippines. Initially, this finding did not sit well the larger Ifugao descendant communities, but, as our article narrates, the pursuit to actively involve stakeholders in the research process resolved this issue. Our experience in Ifugao has shown that the inclusion of the voices of stakeholders in the interpretation of the past is inadequate because it suggests that indigenous stakeholders are simply contributors to, and not co-investigators of, research projects. As our work in Ifugao demonstrates, primary stakeholders are now co-investigators (exemplified by this coauthored article).

A snapshot of physical activity programs targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.

Issue addressed Participation in physical activity programs can be an effective strategy to reduce chronic disease risk factors and improve broader social outcomes. Health and social outcomes are worse among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders than non-Indigenous Australians, who represent an important group for culturally specific programs. The extent of current practice in physical activity programs is largely unknown. This study identifies such programs targeting this population group and describes their characteristics. Methods Bibliographic and Internet searches and snowball sampling identified eligible programs operating between 2012 and 2015 in Australia (phase 1). Program coordinators were contacted to verify sourced information (phase 2). Descriptive characteristics were documented for each program. Results A total of 110 programs were identified across urban, rural and remote locations within all states and territories. Only 11 programs were located through bibliographic sources; the remainder through Internet searches. The programs aimed to influence physical activity for health or broader social outcomes. Sixty five took place in community settings and most involved multiple sectors such as sport, health and education. Almost all were free for participants and involved Indigenous stakeholders. The majority received Government funding and had commenced within the last decade. More than 20 programs reached over 1000 people each; 14 reached 0-100 participants. Most included process or impact evaluation indicators, typically reflecting their aims. Conclusion This snapshot provides a comprehensive description of current physical activity program provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia. The majority of programs were only identified through the grey literature. Many programs collect evaluation data, yet this is underrepresented in academic literature. So what? Capturing current practice can inform future efforts to increase the impact of physical activity programs to improve health and social indicators. Targeted, culturally relevant programs are essential to reduce levels of disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

“This is a holy place of Ama Jomo”: buen vivir, indigenous voices and ecotourism development in a protected area of Bhutan

ABSTRACTCommon definitions of ecotourism address the need to benefit the well-being of local people; in reality, ecotourism is often supported or dominated by external agents. Local ideological, social and cultural values may be overlooked, thereby disenfranchising local and indigenous stakeholders. This paper examines indigenous perceptions of ecotourism and well-being, and how they relate to ecotourism practices in three Brokpa communities of the first protected area in Bhutan to become a special tourism destination. A range of methods (e.g. semi-structured interviews, participatory mapping) was used and data analysis was couched in the context of buen vivir (living well), an indigenous concept of well-being. Findings indicate that: (1) perceptions of ecotourism vary between community members and contrast with the official park definition; (2) well-being is conceived in diverse ways but corresponds to key features of buen vivir; (3) indigenous worldviews are pervasive, and shape social values and spiritual beliefs in connection to nature; and (4) indigenous cosmologies and traditional values may be strengthened through their integration into modern policies and institutions. This research contributes more non-Western voices to the literature, a concept and mode of analysis for well-being that embraces an indigenous ontology, and empirical insights on indigenous communities in protected areas.

Chronicling the land rights movement: the democratic role of Australian Indigenous land rights publications

The Australian land rights debate has polarized public opinion since the 1960s. Deliberative democratic theory argues that sound public opinion forms after citizens engage in discussions about issues of concern, including mediated conversations. Yet, mainstream media coverage of native title disputes has often excluded and ridiculed Indigenous stakeholders. This study draws on in-depth interview and archival data and newspaper content analysis, to examine how land rights publications produced since 1971 have injected Indigenous voices and perspectives into mediated public debates. Producers of land rights publications have sought to redress the balance in democratic processes by providing access to authentic, Indigenous voices. Their content has influenced political policy and public opinion and challenged inaccuracies and misrepresentations within mainstream media coverage.

Music in Culture, Music as Culture, Music Interculturally: Reflections on the Development and Challenges of Ethnomusicological Research in Australia

This article provides an account of the response to the modern postcolonial prerogative in intercultural music research from a particular perspective and field: that of a non-Indigenous Australian ethnomusicologist (the author) who conducts research on Indigenous Australian musical traditions with Indigenous cultural performers and stakeholders. The article outlines histories and legacies of ethnomusicological research in Australia centred on its grapplings with the role of musical analysis in the task of understanding music in and as culture. It then provides an account of a new postcolonial discourse of interculturalism in the study of music as culture as it manifests in applied ethnomusicologies that are centred on recording and repatriation. The aim of this is to trace a path from consideration of challenges of the study of music as culture in ethnomusicology, towards a transdisciplinary postcolonial discourse that is applicable to all research concerned with music and contemporary human societies.

Indigenous tourism research, past and present: where to from here?

ABSTRACTIndigenous tourism is a global phenomenon, encompassing a range of complex, multi-layered issues. The foci of Indigenous tourism research are multifaceted, reflecting a plethora of stakeholders with differing perspectives and values about the direction, development and sustainability of the sector. The academic literature consistently highlights the need for a more comprehensive understanding of Indigenous tourism and, specifically, one that takes into account the interests and values of its stakeholders. This paper provides a global overview of Indigenous tourism development and its international and national institutional links, concomitantly identifying and examining the trajectory of scholarly interest in Indigenous tourism from 1980 to 2014. An analysis of 403 published journal articles is supplemented with the perspectives of Indigenous tourism researchers. The results reveal that sustainability issues underpin and shape a substantive proportion of published Indigenous tourism research to date. The challenge now is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Indigenous tourism from the perspective of Indigenous stakeholders, approaching its complexity in an iterative, adaptive and flexible style, and with affected stakeholders involved in the research process, knowledge creation and its outcomes. This is both an ethical imperative and a pragmatic approach to ensure the outcomes of research facilitate the sustainability of Indigenous tourism.