Building Community Relationships in Indigenous Language Research: A Case Study from St. Lawrence Island, Alaska

This study presents an account of building community relationships during linguistic fieldwork with the Yupik community on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, aimed at language documentation and revitalization. In the summer of 2023, I embarked on an expedition to document the Akuzipik/Yupik language, guided by my research supervisor. However, two tragic accidents in the village, one resulting in a fatality and the other causing significant distress, deeply affected the community. Consequently, we paused our data collection efforts to give the community space and time to mourn. Despite not meeting our initial objective of collecting linguistic data, this period of shared grief allowed us to foster deeper relationships with the community members. By engaging in non-research activities, such as participating in community gatherings and offering support, we built trust and mutual respect. This experience underscored the importance of adaptability and responsiveness to the community's needs, reinforcing the principle of conducting research with, rather than on, Indigenous peoples. Our focus on relationship-building rather than data collection proved beneficial in the long run. The trust we established facilitated more effective collaboration in subsequent visits and meetings. This approach highlights the ethical responsibility researchers have towards the communities they study and the significance of prioritizing participant well-being over research objectives. This presentation will detail the challenges and lessons learned from this experience, offering insights into ethical practices in linguistic research. It will discuss the importance of conducting fieldwork in vulnerable communities and the significance of prioritizing the well-being of participants over research objectives. By centering community needs and voices, this study contributes to a broader understanding of ethical practices in applied linguistics. It reminds the researchers to honor and respect the communities they work with. It advocates for research driven by community needs, ensuring Indigenous perspectives are integral to the research process.