One of the most fascinating elements of decolonising research relates to what sorts of “literatures” are honoured and contributed to. This chapter explores the implications of developing forms of research that prioritise community ownership, validation and reciprocity.
Decolonising literature reviews
Ethical considerations: Community knowledge, validation and reciprocity
For more about the Nagoya Protocol and legal frameworks that seek to protect Indigenous knowledge holders, see this website. Information about Botswana’s local implementation of biodiversity protocols can be found here. Perhaps you can also investigate if your country has signed up to the Nagoya protocol.
Having considered these principles of community-led research, please read this interview with Bagele: “Decolonising research”
To close this chapter, we have included a series of short clips about community protocols and referencing within community-centred, community-led and community-validated research.
A story of research involving community protocols: Jane Awi
Questioning confidentiality: referencing those who are contributors to community knowledge
Research that is community-centred, community-led and community-validated
Finally, there is diversity within every community. There are ethical considerations about how our research can create a context for acknowledging the contributions of those whose perspectives are usually subjugated.
Within every community there is somebody whose knowledge is being subjugated
References and further reading
Awi, J. (Producter/Director). (2026). Research documentation and application of traditional knowledge of women in climate change adaptation [Film]. University of Goroka; Climate Change and Development Authority; PNGAus Partnership. https://vimeo.com/1232273425/ae5bde8be2?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Rogers, J. (2024). Towards an Indigenous literature re-view methodology: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boarding school literature. Australian Educational Researcher, 51, 1579–1606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-023-00654-4 [open access]
Silmaxcy, K. (2025). From tradition to tomorrow: Local women in Papua New Guinea leading climate change adaption. Somare Research Institute Newsletter, 2(5), 1–4. https://www.unigoroka.ac.pg/images/SRI/News%20Letters/SRI_News_Letter_Volume_2_Issue_5.pdf
Tynan, L., & Bishop, M. (2023). Decolonizing the Literature Review: A Relational Approach. Qualitative Inquiry, 29(3–4), 498-508. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778004221101594 [paywalled]
Reflect
The considerations in this chapter invite forms of research that we find enlivening! Please reflect on which aspects are of most interest to you and share a written reflection below.