Observing

One initiative of the FSWG is on improving Arctic observing through the international initiative of Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) ROADS.

Working towards SAON ROADS is the Research Networking Activity (RNA) for Coordinated Arctic Observations (CoObs) in partnership with FSWG focused on Indigenous food security in the Pacific Arctic region. RNA CoObs funds the three liaisons to work for the FSWG. The FSWG acts as a boundary organization to facilitate connections and ensure ethical processes.

"An Indigenous-centered food security observation system is centered around a holistic approach integrating Indigenous Knowledges and science to monitor a rapidly changing Arctic. "

Indigenous-led observing systems view food security and observations through an Indigenous lens, weaves health and wellbeing into every aspect of research and monitoring, supports community-driven works, and focuses on equity and capacity building. The Arctic environment’s highly interconnected systems are interwoven through all aspects of Indigenous natural, cultural, and social aspects of life. This interconnectedness necessitates an understanding of the complex and nuanced connectivity across systems, as they are critically important to all aspects of Indigenous lives and livelihoods, including Indigenous food security.

Faciliating Co-Production of Knowledge

An example is the work with RNA CoObs, which is conceptually depicted in the figure below. The outer ring shows the various relevant actors coming together to discuss how to improve Arctic observing. The shared Arctic variables (what should be observed) is the boundary object to facilitate discussions. Following an Indigenized co-production of knowledge approach, every member coming to the table is respected for their diverse perspective which also comes with different attributes that need to be integrated into the process. The liaisons work to facilitate activities and knowledge exchanges, build relationships, ensure an equitable and ethical process, cultural inclusivity, and translate when needed.

Figure 1. Conceptual depiction of developing an Indigenous-centered Food Security Observation System

Actions to Indigenous-centered Food Security Observation System

1) To view food security through an Indigenous lens.

2) To weave human health and wellness into every aspect of the observation system.

3) Support community-driven research and monitoring.

4) Focus capacity building on Indigenous organizations, communities, and researchers.

5) Moving forward under a new, equitable paradigm based on lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic.

Cultural Inclusivity - Paradigm Shift in Research

  • Support Indigenous-led, community-driven, and community-based research and observation systems.

  • Tribes and Indigenous leaders are already working on projects for Indigenous resilience. Researchers need to look to support Indigenous-led work.

  • True inclusivity means Indigenous individuals expressing themselves fully within the context of their own culture and language.

  • Make time to develop trust and relationships. Meet where Indigenous Peoples are in communities and at well-represented conferences.

  • Personally commit to the partnership as there is a history of exploitation and abuse from researchers in Indigenous communities.

  • Co-production of knowledge means making space for the community partners to define their own role, the research problem and questions, the methods, and the intended impacts. Cultural inclusivity cannot happen through a scientific lens.

  • Focus on equity and building capacity for communities to do and lead research by supporting local logistics, community-based researchers, educational programs, youth engagement, building local infrastructure, and improving connectivity.

  • Equitably distribute project resources and funding to the communities.

  • Build capacity within research institutes and universities to support Indigenous ways of knowing and methodologies. Researchers individually need to understand the Indigenous worldview, history of colonization, and Indigenous governance.

  • Follow Indigenous-created equity and ethical frameworks. Support communities to develop their own protocols.

  • There is an inherent tension between the scientific and Indigenous worldviews, therefore the status quo of research processes need to be questioned. Negotiate the communication plan, gathering, decision-making, authorship, credit, benefits, funding, and leadership.

  • Understand the sensitive intellectual property rights in regard to Indigenous Knowledge and data developed by Indigenous Peoples.

  • Evaluation must include Indigenous and community partners’ metrics of success.

  • Move past validating Indigenous Knowledge to focusing on solutions.