Navigating Ethics Applications

Indigenous Research Ethics Resource 

If your research involves Indigenous people and you work in the Wabanaki-Labrador region, this resource guide will help you familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of Indigenous Research Ethics.   

Research, whether it involves humans, animals or the environment, shall adhere to the principle of supporting and promoting a positive research environment. The Tri-Agency Framework provides a researcher with fundamental guidelines outlining the responsibilities and policies. Academic researchers usually receive ethics clearance from their affiliated universities; however, if the research involves the Indigenous community, knowledge, land, practices, etc., researchers shall also obtain ethics clearance from the Indigenous community ethics board.  

As stated above, if one’s research involves an Indigenous community, land, knowledge, traditions, etc., an independent researcher shall also obtain an ethical clearance from the designated Indigenous community’s ethics review board. We have gathered Indigenous research ethics-related resources together to prepare you for an ethics clearance before you commence the research in the Wabanaki-Labrador region: 

Important Note: If there are researchers from more than one academic institution on the research team, you may be required to get ethics clearance from each of their institution be sure to find out what is the requirement for your institution. Please remember to factor an ethics review process into your research project timeline, if applicable. Ethics applications take time to prepare, and once submitted, you can expect requested revisions or changes to your application before it is approved. Funds cannot be released until ethics approval is obtained.    

Available Indigenous Research Ethics Resources:  

1) The Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS 2) - Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada. The chapter provides the framework for research ethics involving Indigenous peoples. 

2) You can take a course on research ethics. TCPS 2 offers a course on research ethics that supports the Canadian research community’s implementation of the TCPS policy statement. (Link:  TCPS 2: Course on Research Ethics (CORE). Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2). 

3) If you are working with First Nations, the online training  The Fundamentals of OCAP® is highly recommended.  

4) If your research involves Mi’kmaw from Nova Scotia, (people, land, knowledge, culture, arts, spirituality, or traditions) please submit the ethics review application to the Mi’kmaw Ethics Watch Review Committee. (https://www.cbu.ca/indigenous-initiatives/mikmaw-ethics-watch/) 

5. If your research is on Prince Edward Island (PEI) and with the Indigenous community, submit your research proposals to the PEI Research Ethics Board. They will review your research proposal to determine the ethical implications and ensure the safety and rights of participants. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/pei-research-ethics-board. You may also check the resource available at the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI: https://mcpei.ca/resources/  

6. There are a few more resources that provide insight into the significance of research ethics, how to prepare an ethics review application and guidance on the fundamentals of Indigenous research ethics:  

i) Dalhousie University guideline on Indigenous Research Ethics:  

https://www.dal.ca/dept/research-services/resources/indigenous-research-resources/ethics.html  

ii) St. Francis Xavier Ethics Page: https://www.stfx.ca/research/research-ethics-board/research-ethics-indigenous-peoples  

iii)Mount St. Vincent: https://www.msvu.ca/research-at-the-mount/equity-diversity-and-inclusion-in-research/research-with-indigenous-communities/ 

iv) Memorial University: https://www.mun.ca/research/indigenous-research-at-memorial/  

v) WLN Ethics Report 2021.  

vi) Guidelines for research involving Aboriginal communities in Newfoundland and Labrador (PDF link https://hrea.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/08/Guidelines-for-conducting-research-with-Aboriginal-communities-in-NL-Feb-.pdf ) 

vii) Nunatukavut Research Governance (https://nunatukavut.ca/departments/research-education-culture/  

viii)First Nations Ethics First Nations Ethics Guide on Research Research and Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge ( https://achh.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Guide_Ethics_AFN.pdf ) 

ix) University of New Brunswick (https://www.unb.ca/saintjohn/sase/_assets/documents/quest-indigenous-research.pdf )