decolonizing methodologies by linda tuhiwai smith

Smith argues that decolonizing research requires the dismantling of power structures and imperial ideologies, which will likely be a difficult but essential process. She advocates for a shift from extraction and domination to working in collaboration and recognition of the knowledge of Indigenous people, an approach focused on the autonomy of Indigenous researchers and problem solvers, and the emergence of Indigenous research paradigms. Smith identifies that research continues to be a form of conquest, inequality, and subjugation of Indigenous people, and calls for a total transformation of research values, principles, and practices. Smith encourages a reconsidered assessment of terms such as ‘objectivity’, ‘generality’, and ‘reliability’ in decolonizing research, suggesting a revisit of what these terms signify and how bias affects the way data is collected, analyzed, and interpreted.ĭecolonizing Methodologies examines the intersection of knowledge and power within research and how this intersection has been used to establish and maintain colonial power. Smith also examines the power dynamics of Indigenous research as conducted by non-Indigenous researchers and makes an argument that research should be “done with” Indigenous people rather than “done to” Indigenous people. This means researchers must actively examine their context in relation to colonialism and the impacts of colonialism on research relationships.

Smith argues that research must be located within its socio-political context. Smith emphasizes that research is always deeply political and cannot be viewed as simply a neutral tool. She encourages researchers to understand the interdependence of supposedly “neutral” scientific research and the personal and collective experience of Indigenous people. Smith calls on researchers to maintain an open mindset and an awareness of the theoretical and political implications of research.

Smith provides an in-depth exploration of the ways in which colonizing research has failed to address the interests, needs, and experiences of Indigenous peoples, which have instead been marginalized, disregarded, and misrepresented under the guise of scientific objectivity. The book offers a provocative response to the challenge of Indigenous research, providing an outline for challenging colonial assumptions and practices, and effectively advocating for decolonizing knowledge. Smith reevaluates the traditional Western approach to research, which has often been damaging and oppressive to Indigenous populations, and argues for decolonizing research methods in order to advance Indigenous research and peoples. Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples, by Linda Tuhiwai Smith, is a groundbreaking exploration of how Indigenous peoples throughout the world can use their knowledge and lived experiences to revolutionize existing research methods and approaches.

Decolonizing methodologies by linda tuhiwai smith