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.

Linda smith indigenous methodologies