Social Sciences Plenary: Meeting the Trickster and Learning Community-Based Research Practice
Dr. Janice Ristock, Randy Jackson
Using an Indigenous storytelling approach, Dr. Janice Ristock and Randy Jackson shared and reflected upon their experiences of a community-based participatory action research project exploring Two-Spirit HIV+ women’s experiences with homophobia in service provision. Through use of the Trickster as a reflective tool, the speakers reflected upon the distractions, destabilizing experiences, and transformations that were part of their research journey. At its core, the Trickster is ultimately about teaching important lessons. The speakers described the lessons that they learned from their experiences, including lessons which are applicable to anyone wishing to engage in community-based research. These lessons included: 1) the importance of working at a local level, with local researchers and site-specific protocols, and including participants with their lived experience in the research process but with strong supports and resources; 2) the need to discuss and unpack OCAP principles as they pertain to practice (i.e., carrying out the specific project and group roles) prior to applying for funding, and return to these issues throughout the process; 3) the recognition that the ways in which we express concepts are always changing, and researchers need to find ways to move outside constraining boxes and categories; and 4) the need for ongoing communication and engagement between members of the team, and continuing reflection on both the goals and processes of the research, as well as on the responsibilities of the individuals and groups participating in the research process. This was an exceptional plenary by two wonderful speakers, who demonstrated the potential in using Indigenous knowledge to improve research practices. It was also admirable that they had the bravery and humility to share their own experiences to identify some barriers, challenges, and obstacles that may be part of the community-based research process.