“Weaving a Mat That We Can All Sit On”: Qualitative Research Approaches for Productive Dialogue in the Intercultural Space

Emma Haynes, Minitja Marawili, Alice Mitchell, Roz Walker, Judith Katzenellenbogen and Dawn Bessarab
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Emma Haynes: School of Global and Population Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
Minitja Marawili: Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia
Alice Mitchell: Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia
Roz Walker: School of Global and Population Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
Judith Katzenellenbogen: School of Global and Population Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
Dawn Bessarab: Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Research remains a site of struggle for First Nations peoples globally. Biomedical research often reinforces existing power structures, perpetuating ongoing colonisation by dominating research priorities, resource allocation, policies, and services. Addressing systemic health inequities requires decolonising methodologies to facilitate new understandings and approaches. These methodologies promote a creative tension and productive intercultural dialogue between First Nations and Western epistemologies. Concurrently, the potential of critical theory, social science, and community participatory action research approaches to effectively prioritise First Nations peoples’ lived experience within the biomedical worldview is increasingly recognised. This article describes learnings regarding research methods that enable a better understanding of the lived experience of rheumatic heart disease—an intractable, potent marker of health inequity for First Nations Australians, requiring long-term engagement in the troubled intersection between Indigenist and biomedical worldviews. Working with Yolŋu (Aboriginal) co-researchers from remote Northern Territory (Australia), the concept of ganma (turbulent co-mingling of salt and fresh water) was foundational for understanding and applying relationality ( gurrutu ), deep listening ( nhina, nhäma ga ŋäma), and the use of metaphors—approaches that strengthen productive dialogue, described by Yolŋu co-researchers as weaving a ‘mat we can all sit on’. The research results are reported in a subsequent article.

Keywords: health inequalities; co-design and community engagement; First Nations; Australian Aboriginal; Socially Disadvantaged Communities; innovative research practices; decolonising methodologies; intercultural; productive dialogue (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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