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Transforming cross‐cultural water research through trust, participation and place
Author(s) -
Woodward Emma,
Marrfurra McTaggart Patricia
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geographical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.695
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-5871
pISSN - 1745-5863
DOI - 10.1111/1745-5871.12136
Subject(s) - general partnership , indigenous , participatory action research , government (linguistics) , public relations , citizen journalism , political science , sociology , action research , traditional knowledge , flexibility (engineering) , management , ecology , pedagogy , linguistics , philosophy , anthropology , law , biology , economics
Abstract Indigenous voices in government‐led natural resource management planning processes are often marginalised, misinterpreted, or excluded. Third parties, including government‐employed geographers, can act as knowledge brokers in defining Indigenous values and interests so they might be included in government planning processes. This paper reviews and assesses a research partnership that evolved to document the complex and diverse ecological and hydrological values held by N gan'gi speakers about the D aly R iver and connected water places in the N orthern T erritory, A ustralia. The development of trust through the slow building of a relationship based on place‐based dialogue, a key aspect of participatory action research ( PAR ), created the foundation from which a mutually beneficial and respectful research partnership was able to, and continues to, evolve. Both research partners' perspectives are revealed here to articulate why the research partnership was deemed a success. Key lessons learned from the research partnership include the importance of trust, respect for place‐based learning, researcher and institutional flexibility, and awareness of the intricacies of relationship building and the benefits that research engagement can bring to Indigenous people and communities. We aim to further dialogue among geographers and interested disciplines as to the potential for PAR methods to foster mutually beneficial Indigenous–non‐Indigenous research partnerships.