Culturally Responsible & Contextually Responsive Research in the Pacific

Non-indigenous/non-Pacific researchers in the Pacific must embrace how participants share knowledge, what it means to honour, (re)present and sensemake relational positionality in ethical, values-based, mana-enhancing and nuanced spaces. Being mindful of the 'spaces' shaping one's positionality and how they occupy spaces are critical, ongoing negotiations. They must confront their otherness to actively navigate how participants make meaning of relationality with the researcher. It is important to constantly recognise and acknowledge biases through ongoing, diligent reflexivity and explore the tensions of privilege, contexts, cultures and their positionalit(ies) within relational research spaces. Researcher positionality is contextual and relational and must be continuously interrogated by the researcher and participants. Initial assumptions will be made while the relationship is developed. Through relational development, trust, reciprocity and humility are created, and relational positionality emerges. Pacific customs and relational ethics require researchers to clarify their place-space connections and philosophical and practical research approaches. To maximise research authenticity, it is critical to understand the contexts of the spaces, places and peoples. Removing inherent power and privileges is impossible, but ethical/responsible/responsive researchers strive to create balanced, non-colonising relationships. Researchers must honour their participants and approach academic scholarship as contextually responsive and responsible researchers.