The Noojamadaa Project: using visual research methods to elicit Indigenous women’s perspectives on healthy relationships and support reconciliation in Canada

Abstract

Indigenous women experience higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), when compared with non-Indigenous women. Little research has focused on Indigenous women's perspectives of IPV. Three Northern Ontario First Nations communities wished to collaborate with researchers on IPV research. To provide women’s perspectives on IPV, groups of participants were established in each community (n=3). Participants (n=23) chose to approach research on IPV from a strengths-based approach and, together with researchers, transformed the photovoice method to research according to Indigenous worldviews. Gaataa’aabing is a new visual research method which adapts to the cultural values of participants and emphasizes participant-desired outcomes as a required result of research. Video footage and images from group sessions on IPV were used to create an educational video that promotes cultural safety for service providers who work with Indigenous women, shares Indigenous women’s perspectives on healthy relationships, highlights strengths which might help address IPV, and works toward reconciliation.