title: A clash of paradigms? Western and indigenous views on health research involving Aboriginal peoples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the issues of data management and data ownership with regard to health research conducted in aboriginal or indigenous populations in Canada.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Research with aboriginal communities in Canada has often been conducted by researchers who had little or no understanding of the community in which the research was taking place. This led to 'helicopter' research, which benefitted the researcher but not the community. National aboriginal leadership developed the ownership, control, access, and possession (OCAP) principles, which outline how to manage research data regarding aboriginal people and to counteract disrespectful methodologies. However, these principles present their own set of challenges to those who would conduct research with aboriginal populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Documents from the Assembly of First Nations, the Government of Canada, Aboriginal writers and researchers, and Nursing theorists and researchers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a methodology paper that reviews the issues of data ownership when conducting research with Aboriginal populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors explore indigenous and Western views of knowledge development, outline and discuss the OCAP principles, and present the Canadian Institute of Health Research's guidelines for health research involving aboriginal people as a guide for those who want to carry out ethical and culturally competent research, do no harm and produce research that can benefit aboriginal peoples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are special considerations associated with conducting research with Aboriginal populations. The Assembly of First Nations wants researchers to use the Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP) principles with First Nations data. These principles are restrictive and need to be discussed with stakeholders before research is undertaken.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Canada, it is imperative that researchers use the Canadian Institute of Health Research Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People to ensure culturally sensitive and ethical conduct during the course of the research with Aboriginal populations. However, some communities may also want to use the OCAP principles and these principles will need to be taken into consideration when designing the study.
authors: University of Saskatchewan, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors: Theresa Diane
authors: TD
authors: Campbell
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D004930:Inuit
keywords: Data ownership; cultural guidelines; data collection; data management; indigenous research