. 2022 Aug;30(4):550-558.

doi: 10.1111/ajr.12905. Epub 2022 Jul 20.

ICIRAS: Research and reconciliation with indigenous peoples in rural health journals

Mark J Lock Ngiyampaa¹, Faye McMillan Wiradjuri², Donald Warne Oglala Lakota³, Bindi Bennett Gamilaraay⁴, Jacquie Kidd Ngāpuhi⁵, Naomi Williams Bkejwanong⁶, Jodie Lea Martire⁷, Paul Worley⁸, Peter Hutten-Czapski⁹, Emily Saurman¹⁰, Veronica Matthews Quandamooka¹¹, Emma Walke Bundjalung¹¹, Dave Edwards Worimi¹², Julie Owen Nurrunga And Ngarrendjeri¹³, Jennifer Browne¹⁴, Russell Roberts¹⁵

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health, School of Public Health, Girra Maa Indigenous Health Discipline, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Population, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, University of New South Wales, Samuels Building University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
³ School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of North Dakota, Grand Folks, North Dakota, USA.
⁴ First Nations Health, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
⁵ Maori Advancement Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁶ School of Social Work, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
⁷ CSC, St Lucia, Qld, Australia.
⁸ Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
⁹ Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
¹⁰ Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹¹ Centre for Research Excellence: Strengthening Systems for Indigenous Health Care Equity (CRE- STRIDE), University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, NSW, Australia.
¹² Digital Mental Health, University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, NSW, Australia.
¹³ Library For All, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
¹⁴ Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia.
¹⁵ School of Business, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 35859346
PMCID: PMC9543535
DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12905

ICIRAS: Research and reconciliation with indigenous peoples in rural health journals

Mark J Lock Ngiyampaa et al. Aust J Rural Health. 2022 Aug.

. 2022 Aug;30(4):550-558.

doi: 10.1111/ajr.12905. Epub 2022 Jul 20.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health, School of Public Health, Girra Maa Indigenous Health Discipline, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Population, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, University of New South Wales, Samuels Building University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
³ School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of North Dakota, Grand Folks, North Dakota, USA.
⁴ First Nations Health, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
⁵ Maori Advancement Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁶ School of Social Work, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
⁷ CSC, St Lucia, Qld, Australia.
⁸ Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
⁹ Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
¹⁰ Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹¹ Centre for Research Excellence: Strengthening Systems for Indigenous Health Care Equity (CRE- STRIDE), University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, NSW, Australia.
¹² Digital Mental Health, University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, NSW, Australia.
¹³ Library For All, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
¹⁴ Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia.
¹⁵ School of Business, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 35859346
PMCID: PMC9543535
DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12905

Abstract

Aim: We aim to promote discussion about an Indigenous Cultural Identity of Research Authors Standard (ICIRAS) for academic journal publications.

Context: This is based on a gap in research publishing practice where Indigenous peoples' identity is not systematically and rigorously flagged in rural health research publications. There are widespread reforms, in different research areas, to counter the reputation of scientific research as a vehicle of racism and discrimination against the world's Indigenous peoples. Reflecting on these broader movements, the editorial teams of three rural health journals-the Australian Journal of Rural Health, the Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine, and Rural and Remote Health-recognised that Indigenous peoples' identity could be embedded in authorship details.

Approach: An environmental scan (through a cultural safety lens where Indigenous cultural authority is respected, valued, and empowered) of literature was undertaken to detect the signs of inclusion of Indigenous peoples in research. This revealed many ways in which editorial boards of Journals could systematically improve their process so that there is 'nothing about Indigenous people, without Indigenous people' in rural health research publications.

Conclusion: Improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples worldwide requires high quality research evidence. The philosophy of cultural safety supports the purposeful positioning of Indigenous peoples within the kaleidoscope of cultural knowledges as identified contributors and authors of research evidence. The ICIRAS is a call-to-action for research journals and institutions to rigorously improve publication governance that signals "Editing with IndigenUs and for IndigenUs".

Keywords: Indigenous peoples; author credentials; cultural identity; cultural provenance; cultural safety.

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Conflict of interest statement

Collaboratively published in the Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine, Rural and Remote Health, and the Australian Journal of Rural Health. ML, FM, and ES are Associate Editors of the AJRH. RR is former Editor‐in‐Chief of AJRH. PHC is Scientific Editor of the Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine. PW is Editor‐in‐Chief of Rural and Remote Health.

Figures

**FIGURE 1**
Flagging the Indigenous Cultural Identity of Research Authors Standard (art by Jason Lee, Larrakia)

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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ICIRAS: Research and reconciliation with indigenous peoples in rural health journals

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ICIRAS: Research and reconciliation with indigenous peoples in rural health journals

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