Guidelines

Below is a selected list of guidelines that apply to research involving Inuit. A more detailed explanation of the various guidelines within each of the Inuit regions is available in our fact sheet, “Guidelines for Research Involving Inuit”. This fact sheet is part of our series, Research and Research Ethics.

Guidelines produced by Inuit organizations and governments:

• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. (2005). Checklist: Inuit Involvement in Research Projects. ITK Environment Bulletin, 3, pp. 25-26.
• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. (1998). Negotiating Research Relationships: A Guide for Communities. Iqaluit and Ottawa: Nunavut Research Institute and Inuit Tapirisat of Canada.
• Nickels, S., Shirley, J. and Laidler, G. (2006). Negotiating Research Relationships with Inuit Communities: A Guide for Researchers. Ottawa and Iqaluit: Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Nunavut Research Institute. [Revised edition of the original from 1998]
• Nunatsiavut Government. (2008). Nunatsiavut Government Interim Research Process. Updated December 2008. Contact John Lampe, the Nunatsiavut Inuit Research Advisor for updates of this document. (john_lampe@nunatsiavut.com)

Guidelines applying to research in Inuit regions:

• Association for Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS). (2003). Ethical Principles for Conduct of Research in the North. Ottawa.
• Aurora Research Institute. (2009). Guide for Research in the Northwest Territories. Inuvik.
• Nunavut Research Institute. (2006). Licensing Process. Iqaluit.

Guidelines concerning research involving Aboriginal Peoples in Canada:

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. (2010). Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada. In: Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical conduct for Research Involving Humans, December 2010.  Ottawa.
• Canadian Archaeological Association. (1997). Statement of Principles for Ethical Conduct Pertaining to Aboriginal Peoples. Canadian Journal of Archaeology, 21(1): pp. 5-6.
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research. (2007). CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People. Ottawa: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
• Grenier, L. (1998). Working with Indigenous Knowledge: A Guide for Researchers. Ottawa: International Development Research Centre.
• Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre (IPHRC). (2004). The Ethics of Research Involving Indigenous Peoples. Report of the Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre to the Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics (PRE). IPHRC.  Regina:  University of Regina
• Kenney, C. (2004). A Holistic Framework for Aboriginal Policy Research. Ottawa: Status of Women Canada.
• Kenney, C. (2002). North American Indian, Métis and Inuit Women Speak About Culture, Education and Work. Ottawa: Status of Women Canada.
• National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO). (2007). OCAP Principles. Ottawa:  First Nations Centre.
• National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO). (2005). Interviewing Elders – Guidelines from the National Aboriginal Health Organization. Ottawa.
• Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP). (1996).  Appendix E: Ethical Guidelines for Research in Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Ottawa: Government of Canada.

Canadian Guidelines for Ethical Research:

• Canadian Psychological Association. (2000). Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. 3rd edition. Ottawa.  [This edition is under review 2010-2011.]
• Canadian Archaeological Association. (1996). Principles for Ethical Conduct. Ottawa.
• Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Considering Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge in Environmental Assessments Conducted under the Canadian Environment Assessment Act – Interim Principles. Ottawa:  Government of Canada.
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. (2010). Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans December 2010.  Ottawa.
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Requirements for Certain Types of Research.  Ottawa.

Other guidelines and principles of interest

National Health and Medical Research Council.  (2003).  Values and Ethics:  Guidelines for ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research. Canberra, Commonwealth of Australia.

World Medical Association (WMA).  (2008).  WMA Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. 59th WMA General Assembly, Seol, Korea, October 2008.