BAMOS
Jun 2020
19
Co‐design in action: planning for the National First Peoples Gathering on Climate Change.
Source: Karen Pearce
agreement is an excellent way to document the terms of free,
prior and informed consent and engagement generally. It will
ensure that everyone is aware of what to expect and what is
expected of them from the start.
Respect the provision and ownership of traditional
knowledge. In the past, intellectual property of Traditional
Owners has not been recognised, with traditional knowledge
being freely given but not valued or acknowledged by western
researchers. It is now understood that traditional knowledge is
not a free resource, there for the taking. Just as western science
researchers are paid, payment for services to provide traditional
knowledge may also be required. This needs to be factored into
project budgets. Similarly, just as western science researchers
are appropriately acknowledged in research publications and
products, so too should Indigenous collaborators. Remember
many Traditional Owners have been through cycles of new
researchers, same research—often with little to show for it.
Ensure you do your groundwork, so no‐one’s time is wasted.
Identify benefits to country and community. Be clear about
the benefits to country and community of your research and
be willing to work with Traditional Owners to deliver these. At
a minimum, the benefits should include information resulting
from your research (in a relevant, useful and accessible format);
however other benefits are possible, including capacity
building opportunities for Traditional Owners. If a project has no
benefits to country or community, it is not reasonable to expect
cooperation and collaboration of the Traditional Owners. Like
everyone, Traditional Owners have limited time and financial
resources, and competing demands on both, so it should not
come as a surprise if priority is given to projects with tangible
returns for country or community.
Remember that connection to country is forever. Research
programs and projects come and go, but the connection of
First Nations people to country does not end. Be mindful that
your legacy, good or bad, will stay with the Traditional Owners
you have worked with after you move on so conduct yourself,
personally and professionally, accordingly.
While many of these considerations may not align well with
funding cycles and program deadlines, they are essential for
successful and meaningful collaboration. The way of working
they describe might be new and challenging, but the benefits
are worth the effort.
Acknowledgements
This article draws on discussions at the cross‐cultural
communication and climate change workshop held at AMOS
2020 that was organised and facilitated by Mandy Hopkins,
Rowena Bullio and Karen Pearce for the Earth Systems
and Climate Change Hub. We acknowledge the valuable
contribution of Traditional Owners Rowena Bullio, Kelvin
Flugge, Damian Morgan‐Bulled, Hilda Mosby, Bianca McNeair
and Gavin Singleton to the workshop.
Indigenous engagement activities in the Earth Systems
and Climate Change Hub are led by Mandy Hopkins. To
find out more about this work, including the upcoming
National First Peoples Gathering on Climate Change,
contact Mandy at mandy.hopkins@csiro.au.
Ensure you are giving as well as taking. If, in developing
your research concept, you come across relevant information
for the country and communities you hope to be working
with, consider providing it to the Traditional Owners early
in your engagement. During your project ensure Traditional
Owners are informed and updated and at its conclusion, ensure
research outputs come back—at the very least copies of papers
and reports. Meetings, tailored communication products and
ongoing contact are also appropriate.