Decolonizing autism research: Integrating Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing | Grant Bruno et al. | ResearchPod

Transcript: Decolonizing autism research: Integrating Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing

[[RP_SECTION:critique-of-research-paradigms|Critique of Research Paradigms]]

Alex: [thoughtful, moderate pace] Research often treats participants as data sources to be mined, but a new editorial argues that approach consistently fails Indigenous Autistic communities and their families.

Sam: [grounded, matter-of-fact, voice sitting low] That's the argument Grant Bruno and colleagues make in a recent editorial in the journal Autism. They contend that the standard objective research paradigm is fundamentally incompatible with Indigenous worldviews, because it prioritizes linear, extractive data collection over the deep, reciprocal obligations of kinship.

Alex: [leaning in, curious, upward inflection] So it's not just about changing the survey questions or the recruitment strategy—it's a shift in the entire relationship between the researcher and the community? [[RP_SECTION:relational-accountability-frameworks|Relational Accountability Frameworks]]

Sam: [steady, precise, voice measured] Precisely. The authors propose a move toward relational accountability, which they define as an ethical obligation to maintain long-term, reciprocal connections with the community, the land, and future generations. In their view, research isn't something you do to a subject, but a process you co-produce with partners. <break time="0.6s" /> The core mechanism is replacing the transactional model with one where the health of the community and the integrity of the relationship are the primary measures of success.

Alex: [slower pace, processing, slight head-tilt in voice] That's a significant departure from the typical biomedical model of autism research. How do they actually operationalize that in a study? [[RP_SECTION:culturally-specific-methodologies|Culturally Specific Methodologies]]

Sam: [measured, building momentum, voice warming] They draw on culturally specific frameworks to replace hierarchical structures. The nêhiyaw concept of wâhkôtowin, kinship and interconnectedness, gets applied through something like the circle method, where researchers, Autistic individuals, and Elders meet in non-hierarchical spaces to build consensus on every decision. It turns the research process into a form of community engagement rather than a data extraction event.

Alex: [analytical edge, probing] So the circle method isn't just a qualitative technique—it's a way to ensure the community retains sovereignty over the research agenda.

Sam: [nodding in voice, precise] Exactly. Similarly, the Māori research methodology Kaupapa Māori explicitly challenges Western hegemony. They use pūrākau, cultural narratives, to amplify the lived experiences of disabled individuals. In one instance, that meant weaving family stories into theatre works to express sensory and emotional realities that standard clinical surveys simply don't capture.

Decolonizing autism research: Integrating Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing

Grant Bruno, Anne Lindblom, Jessica Tupou, Fran Kewene, TC Waisman, Iliana Magiati

Oct 7, 2025·4:14·user_upload·Original Paper

Indigenous Research MethodologiesRelational AccountabilityParticipatory Autism ResearchResearch RefusalDecolonizing Research

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4 min

Briefing

The Need for a Paradigm Shift

Conventional autism research has historically been dominated by Western scientific frameworks that prioritize biomedical causation and deficit-based models. These approaches often pathologize neurodivergence, framing autism as a burden to be fixed rather than a form of human diversity. While recent shifts toward participatory research and the social model of disability have begun to center Autistic voices, these frameworks often remain tethered to Western assumptions about knowledge production. This paper argues that to truly decolonize the field, researchers must integrate Indigenous methodologies that emphasize relational accountability, community sovereignty, and the interconnectedness of people, land, and ancestors.

Indigenous Methodologies in Practice

The authors highlight several Indigenous frameworks that offer transformative alternatives to standard research practices:

nêhiyaw (Plains Cree): The concept of wâhkôtowin (kinship) guides research by centering reciprocal relationships and allowing for the tensions that arise between different worldviews to be viewed as opportunities for deeper ethical dialogue.
Kaupapa Māori: This approach serves as a form of resistance to colonial norms, utilizing pūrākau (cultural narratives) and embodied methods like theater to amplify the lived experiences of disabled Māori and their families.
Fijian (Vanua Research Framework): This framework emphasizes the interconnectedness of land and community, requiring research to be not only participatory but also protective of the community’s well-being and progress.
Sámi: Emerging projects are utilizing "paradigms in concert," weaving traditional storytelling and conversation practices like bálddalagaid (side-by-side) into research to capture the everyday realities of Autistic Sámi individuals.

A Transformative Research Agenda

Moving forward, the authors call for a reorientation of autism research that prioritizes Indigenous and Autistic leadership. This involves moving beyond extractive models toward research that is "with, by, and for" the community. Researchers are encouraged to foster "ethical spaces" where Indigenous worldviews are respected, and where research is accountable to future generations and the land. By resisting both pathologizing narratives and the romanticization of Indigenous identities, this approach seeks to affirm both Indigenous sovereignty and Autistic agency, creating a more just and inclusive future for the global autism community.

Key Terms and Definitions

Wâhkôtowin — A nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) principle of kinship and interconnectedness that outlines the responsibilities to maintain reciprocal relationships with people, land, and ancestors.
Kaupapa Māori — A research methodology grounded in Māori worldviews that seeks to reclaim Indigenous knowledge, challenge Western paradigms, and promote Māori self-determination.
Pūrākau — A Māori narrative tradition used as a research method to gather and amplify cultural knowledge and lived experiences through storytelling.
Vanua Research Framework — A Fijian methodology that emphasizes the interconnectedness of land, leaders, and community, requiring research to be accountable to the protection and progress of the community.
Research Refusal — A deliberate political act by Indigenous individuals or communities to reject participation in research that is deemed extractive, harmful, or misaligned with their values and sovereignty.

Decolonizing autism research: Integrating Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing: Research Paper Podcast