Reflections on Power Relations and Reciprocity in the Field While Conducting Research with Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

This chapter looks at how specific research methods are chosen when conducting research with Indigenous Peoples and how theoretical principles and approaches are manifested on the ground. The authors share their personal stories and reflect on their research practices based on their fieldwork experience with the North Sámi in Finland and Norway, and with the Khwe San in Namibia. The two Indigenous groups represent two markedly different contexts. However, the commonalities in the uphold-ing of cultural traditions allow researchers to reflect on methodological choices on shared grounds. Two sets of principles for conducting research in an Indigenous context are discussed, while the authors reflect on two main topics in more details; power relations and reciprocity. This chapter argues that principles such as methodological flexibility and the researcher’s relationships with the community members, cultural values and the research topic are vital elements of research carried out with Indigenous communities.