Last week a contingent of researchers from IFC traveled to Aotearoa (New Zealand) for the International Indigenous Research Conference,
hosted by the Centre's sibling organisation the Indigenous Centre of Research Excellence, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga at the University of Auckland.
"The conference themes were ‘Whītiki Taua’ - Research Solidarities - which speak to community collective strength and collaborative research endeavours; together, they symbolise solidarity, sharing and empowerment," he said.
"These themes are not only highly relevant to our Centre, but also to current events in Aotearoa, with Te Hīkoi mō te Tiriti (March for the Treaty), a protest against the Treaty Principles Bill in New Zealand, that we proudly attended, along with more than 40,000 others."
On returning to Australia, the IFC team said the week was a reminder of how powerful collective community strength is and the importance of research solidarity, and relational approaches. These concepts remain the cornerstones of our Centre as we near the first year of our existence.
Our IFC presentations included:
• Dr Daniel McKinnon presented on "good policy" in charter school education based in Aotearoa
• Dr Krystal Lockwood focused on closing the knowledge gaps in criminology
• Dr Janine Gertz spoke to Gugu Badhun Self Determination and Self-Government
• Professor Maria Raciti highlighted Australia’s Indigenous Business Landscape and the drivers of success
• Associate Professor Hinekura Smith presented an Arts-based pedagogy and Māori aspirations for thriving reo and tikanga
• Professor Bronwyn Fredericks and her team presented on Indigenous health evaluations
• Professor Jarrod Haar and team spoke to whānau-centered livelihoods
The team also visited the Unitec & Ngā Wai a Te Tūī Māori & Indigenous Reaearch Centre, to form new connections and share learnings and discussions.