Health sciences research and Aboriginal communities: pathway or pitfall?
OBJECTIVE
To provide health researchers and clinicians with background information and examples regarding Aboriginal health research challenges, in an effort to promote effective collaborative research with Aboriginal communities.


METHODS
An interdisciplinary team of experienced Aboriginal-health researchers conducted a thematic analysis of their planning meetings regarding a community-based Aboriginal health research training project and of the text generated by the meetings and supplemented the analysis with a literature review.


RESULTS
Four research challenges are identified and addressed: (1) contrasting frameworks of Western science and indigenous knowledge systems; (2) the impact of historic colonialist processes upon the interface between health science research and Aboriginal communities; (3) culturally relevant frameworks and processes for knowledge generation and knowledge transfer; and (4) Aboriginal leadership, governance, and participation.


CONCLUSIONS
Culturally appropriate and community-controlled collaborative research can result in improved health outcomes in Aboriginal communities and contribute new insights and perspectives to the fields of public health and medicine in general.
Smylie
Janet
J
Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON.
Kaplan-Myrth
Nili
N
Tait
Caroline
C
Martin
Carmel Mary
CM
Chartrand
Larry
L
Hogg
William
W
Tugwell
Peter
P
Valaskakis
Gail
G
Macaulay
Ann C
AC
D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002170:Canada; D018672:Community Health Planning; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D004930:Inuit; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011634:Public Health