Elsevier

Social Science & Medicine

Volume 66, Issue 6, March 2008, Pages 1393-1405
Social Science & Medicine

Modifying Photovoice for community-based participatory Indigenous research

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.11.030Get rights and content

Abstract

Scientific research occurs within a set of socio-political conditions, and in Canada research involving Indigenous communities has a historical association with colonialism. Consequently, Indigenous peoples have been justifiably sceptical and reluctant to become the subjects of academic research. Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is an attempt to develop culturally relevant research models that address issues of injustice, inequality, and exploitation. The work reported here evaluates the use of Photovoice, a CBPR method that uses participant-employed photography and dialogue to create social change, which was employed in a research partnership with a First Nation in Western Canada. Content analysis of semi-structured interviews (n = 45) evaluated participants' perspectives of the Photovoice process as part of a larger study on health and environment issues. The analysis revealed that Photovoice effectively balanced power, created a sense of ownership, fostered trust, built capacity, and responded to cultural preferences. The authors discuss the necessity of modifying Photovoice, by building in an iterative process, as being key to the methodological success of the project.

Introduction

In decades of research on Indigenous peoples, scientists from the academic world ‘parachuted’ into First Nations (Indigenous communities) across Canada, collected data (frequently without consent) and left, often neglecting to report research findings back to communities (Brant Castellano, 2004, Korsmo and Graham, 2002). As a result, scepticism and resentment of academic researchers exists in many Indigenous communities (Smith, 1999). Further, there is expressed frustration with being ‘researched to death’ or research fatigue (National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2005). As a result, scholars have characterized much Indigenous research not as a pure intellectual process, but one embedded with suspicion and anger on the part of the community under study (Smith, 1999). In an attempt to depart from and address ethical concerns stemming from this kind of traditional academic research, Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) has become widely adopted, resulting in research undertaken with Indigenous peoples in Canada (Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies, 1998, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 2007, National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2005). CBPR is both a philosophy and a methodology that includes research participants as equal partners in problem definition, methodological development, data collection and analysis, and the communication of findings (Fisher & Ball, 2003). The work reported here evaluates the use of an emerging CBPR method, Photovoice, with a First Nation on the West Coast of Canada.

Section snippets

Power, trust, and ownership in First Nations

The Indigenous population in Canada experiences social, political, economic, and environmental injustice and inequality (Brulle & Pellow, 2006). They also tend to be segregated, exploited, or persecuted by the dominant society (Battiste & Youngblood, 2000). However, the Indigenous experience is distinct from other groups such as immigrants or people living with disabilities for one very complex reason: colonization, i.e., an historico-political process of colonialism that is inherently embedded

Methods

In April 2005, Huu-ay-aht First Nation hosted a Symposium to discuss their past, present, and future needs for cedar, a sacred resource. Ongoing environmental changes, pending Treaty settlements, and community-based concern over degradation had all combined to elevate local concern over cedar. Based on needs identified by the community at this time, a community–university research partnership evolved. Huu-ay-aht elected and hereditary leaders agreed to embark on a CBPR partnership with a PhD

Results

Participants indicated satisfaction with the Photovoice method. This satisfaction stemmed from the method's success at balancing power, creating a sense of ownership in the research, fostering trust, building capacity, and implementing a culturally appropriate research project in the community.

Discussion

The results of this work suggest Photovoice was an effective method for sharing power, fostering trust, developing a sense of ownership, creating community change and building capacity. Taken together, these findings are congruent with the intended goals of CBPR. The following discussion is organized around implementing Photovoice ‘on the ground’. The research team found that it had to modify the proscribed process to maintain cultural continuity and address inherent limitations with the method.

Conclusions

The research approach in this study is a response to Indigenous peoples' criticism of academia regarding power, trust, and ownership in Indigenous research. The modified Photovoice process provided grounds for the researchers to listen to and discuss community issues, to demonstrate a positive regard for Indigenous perspectives, and to value the participants' knowledge and expertise. Relinquishing power and decision-making control over the study and adopting a flexible and open approach to the

Acknowledgements

The first author wishes to acknowledge the Council of Huu-ay-aht First Nation, the Community Advisory Committee, and the Community Researchers for their active roles in this study. ‘Klecko, klecko’ to the entire membership of Huu-ay-aht First Nation for their welcome into the community and for their support of and partnership in this research. Thanks also to the three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments towards improving the final manuscript.

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    This research was supported by the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (Doctoral Fellowship #752-2002-1303), the CIHR-IAPH Alberta ACADRE Network, the Community, Health & Environment (CHE) Research Centre at the University of Alberta, the Province of Alberta, the Aurora Research Institute, the Canadian Circumpolar Institute's Circumpolar/Boreal Alberta Research Grant (DIAND), and the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women.

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