Toward a Better Collaboration Between Researchers and First Nations: Blog Post
Organized by the School of Social Work at the Universitéde Moncton and the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network with the partnership of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate, Toward Better Collaboration Between Researchers and First Nations was held on June 10th 2014, at at the Université de Moncton, Pavillon Taillon. The objective of this event was to facilitate a dialogue on the deep and persistent inequalities between First Nations children and families in New Brunswick while asking: What role can researchers play to help diminish those inequalities? What practices must be adopted to conduct responsible research with participants? Ultimately, how can there be a better collaboration between researchers and First Nation participants to identify the root causes of these inequalities and develop new interventions?
Presentations of the day included, among other very interesting topics, the role of collaborative research teams with First Nations (Verlé Harrop, Director of the Director of the Atlantic Research Centre, Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network); an update of the Hand in Hands report (Bernard Richard, former Ombudsman and Child and Youth Advocate); a panel discussion on collaborative research and issues related to children and families (Judy Levi, Child Welfare and Youth Services, Department of Social Development, Laurel Lewey, Mi’kmaq/Maliseet Bachelor of Social Work Program, St.-Thomas University, Andrea Bear-Nicholas, Department of Natives Studies, St. Thomas University, Denis Leblanc, consultant in organization and community development, Christian Whalen, Office of the Child and Youth Advocate).
This event gave way to an honest dialogue on issues surrounding the subject of departure, but also expanded our discussions around the issue of language and First Nations, about which Dr. Bear-Nicholas specializes.
Many relationships were facilitated due to the presence of a large number of individuals from academia, public and community sectors.
We hope the discussions continue, but also that the dialogue of the day leads to collaborative research and inter-sectoral collaborations.
