Steps Working with Indigenous Elders to enable research sovereignty

·20 min·1 clip

Dr. Marie Meredith reveals why universities must form authentic relationships with Indigenous Elders to transform research.

This episode of the STEPS training program features Tara Brabazon interviewing Dr. Marie Meredith, Acting Director of the Post Centre for Indigenous Health. The discussion centers on how universities can work with Indigenous Elders to promote research sovereignty. Marie begins by emphasizing the need for concrete relationships with Elders, noting that Aboriginal knowledge systems predate universities by millennia. She critiques historical research collaborations as one-sided, where results often aren't shared with communities. Marie outlines decolonisation as based on respect, reciprocity, and relationships, stressing the importance of capitalizing terms like 'Indigenous' and 'Elders'. She calls for truth-telling about Australia's colonial history, including massacres and the Stolen Generation. The conversation shifts to health research, where Marie describes Elders as key to holistic approaches, valuing storytelling and country over job titles. Tara asks about Elders' roles in research projects, and Marie argues they should be supervisors, challenging academic gatekeeping. She also discusses improving doctoral programs through culturally safe support and mentorship. Throughout, Marie highlights the shared responsibility of non-Indigenous people in decolonisation and the need for behavioral change in universities. The episode concludes with Tara thanking Marie for her transformative insights.

As heard by us

A practical guide to working with Elders that treats small textual choices as serious research ethics.

The Flinders University STEP session frames work with Elders as a matter of research sovereignty, and it gives that idea weight through small but meaningful choices.

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Why you'd press play

You want a practical case for why capital letters matter in working with Indigenous research and research sovereignty.

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