Off the Rez: Witnessing Indigenous Knowledges Through Social Media

• In Event: Asserting Sovereignty and Self-Determination Through a Tribally Based Doctoral Cohort

Abstract

The term “Off the Rez” is used in the title to mean research not done on the reservation or even in urban areas. In fact, this research takes place online. The DIP aims to discover if social media is an innovative option for non-Indigenous allies to conduct research. The potential for social media as an option for observing Indigenous knowledges is unpacked. The research asks if it’s possible for researchers to use social media to study a people group without inserting themselves in the research. Additionally, the research will specifically ask if social media can be used, by non-Indigenous researcher allies, to ethically conduct Indigenous research. Finally, if this kind of research proves viable, it could change the way in which research is conducted by researchers who are researching groups they are not members of.

Author

• Debbie Hales, University of Washington - Tacoma
  Presenting Author