Openness to ethical research dilemmas as a means to be connected to decolonization agendas

Purpose Ethical principles on research involving Indigenous communities have been drafted and discussed across the social sciences to ensure ethical research and to decolonize research. I argue that reflection on ethical dilemmas in research form a central element in our ethical research considerations. I reflect in this paper on ethical dilemmas researchers may experience when making research choices related to ethical research principles in practice. Design/methodology/approach I ask: How does reflection on ethical dilemmas in Indigenous contexts relate to a researcher's connectedness to decolonization processes? How can researchers reflect on ethical dilemmas in Indigenous research contexts? I address these questions by reflecting on the literature and on my own experiences during research on contestations around land-use intensification in the Sámi people's homeland in Northern Finland. Findings The paper contributes to two discussions: (1) how to conduct research ethically in Indigenous contexts; (2) critical reflexivity on a researcher's identities, positionalities and roles. I reflect on the notion of partial connections as an example of a way to cope with ethical dilemmas; that notion enabled me, a non-Indigenous researcher, to live with tensions in my research choices. Originality/value I join the calls for safe spaces where researchers with varying backgrounds and who are connected to a variety of decolonization projects can reflect on their ethical research dilemmas. I conclude that reflection on ethical research dilemmas enables connectedness to decolonization, whereas the lack of (a) safe space(s) to reflect on ethical dilemmas reproduces (neo)colonial dualistic dividers, with the risk of having such consequences to the Indigenous communities as well.