Learning, sharing and weaving

Understanding Aboriginal perspectives and cultural knowledge was the subject of this outstanding Applied Indigenous Research Methods workshop run by SPHERE's Women's Health Research Network.

“For a long time, Aboriginal people have been told how to do things. Now it’s time to learn how to do things our way,” said Alison Barnes, Associate Lecturer at Western Sydney University and proud Wiradjuri woman.

Alison led participants through ways to indigenise their research including working in partnership with Aboriginal people to create new knowledge based on mutual respect and understanding.

“Researchers need to understand indigenous people’s loss of language, loss of identity and loss of family before working with Aboriginal people,” she explained.

While acknowledging that attending one workshop was not going to make participants experts, she believes it is the right step towards giving Aboriginal people a voice in research.

Participants were then immersed in the art of weaving by Jodie Munday. Drawing on the Dilly Bag method of research by Aunty Kerrie Doyle, participants worked together to create their own dilly bags, and in the process, discovered the traditional ways in which Aboriginal people exchange knowledge through talking.

A great afternoon of learning, sharing and weaving.