The Progressive Integration of Canadian Indigenous Culture Within a Sport Psychology Bicultural Research Team (Report‪)‬

Researchers in sport and exercise psychology are witnessing a call for culturally relevant practices when they engage in research with individuals and communities at the margins (e.g., Hanrahan, 2004; Kontos & Breland-Noble, 2002). Though cultural sport psychology (CSP) researchers regard their work as culturally focused and hopefully culturally sensitive, few have considered whether, and also how, research (and researchers) can contribute to a culture's decolonization when the culture has been re-located to the margins. Through negotiations (and renegotiations) in terms of subject matter, methods, roles of co-researchers, and proprietary rights, mainstream researchers engaged in such work can support the restoration of power balances (instead of perpetuating imbalances; see Fisher, Butryn, & Roper, 2003; Ryba & Wright, 2005). The purpose of the present report is to add to the discussion of decolonizing research (see Smith, 1999) in sport and exercise psychology. We offer a practical example of a bicultural research program experience with a Canadian Aboriginal community (i.e., the Wikwemikong) and mainstream university academics, where decolonization through research and application has progressively become the mandate. Our bicultural research team is comprised of mainstream academics, mostly from Canada, and community appointed Aboriginal co-researchers who represent the Wikwemikong. The team's approach to CSP research has become compatible in many ways with existing Aboriginal research guidelines (see Castellano, 2004; CIHR, 2007; Schnarch, 2004). First, over time we have enhanced integration in terms of depth and quantity of the indigenous (among the Wikwemikong) aspects in our work. Second, by encouraging the Aboriginal community members to share the forefront in recent work through a more thorough integration of their traditional practices, our team has supported de-colonization among the Wikwemikong members through a reaffirmation of their traditional standpoint. There is extensive traditional expertise acquired through lived experience within every cultural community. Integrative approaches to applied research bring to the forefront voices and perspectives that best represent (and empower) the relevant culture and its practices (see also Martin-Hill & Soucy, 2007; University of Victoria, 2003). Third, included within the project have been shifts in the research purpose (i.e., from the description of cultural practices outside the mainstream shared with mainstream academics to community integrated practices that are proposed by Wikwemikong's Band and Council). These facets of indigenous methodology are meant to encompass a general intent and spirit within our work, transcending the mechanics of indigenous methods, alone. As Martin-Hill and Soucy have clarified in relation to indigenous methodology, it is "...about the movement towards autonomy for indigenous communities and is a means by which to better understand and acknowledge ideologies that are different from and equally as important as Western perspectives" (p. 19). The goal is to learn not only about relevant sport psychology practice but also to support, through research and application, the enhancement of Wikwemikong's sport programs for their youth employing a holistic approach that affirms community engagement.