Ethnographic futures research as a method for working with Indigenous communities to develop sustainability indicators

ABSTRACT

Ethnographic futures research (EFR) is a participatory research method that allows the researcher(s) and Indigenous people to explore sustainability together. The method is in alliance with Indigenous methodologies and provides a space for storytelling and trust-building between all participants. EFR develops a proactive attitude toward the future and helps people find their place in the future, exploring what they can do to achieve the future they want. The method helps participants clarify their values and goals in order to be an active participant in the future. In this paper, the author explains how EFR may be a particularly productive method to explore sustainability with Indigenous people as it utilizes a three-scenario methodology of the optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely futures. A case study, using information from the author's dissertation, will show the utility of EFR by exploring how the three scenarios lead to more insight about sustainability for the community. The article goal is to demonstrate that EFR is in alliance with Indigenous methodologies, provides benefits for the participants, and allows a community to explore how to live sustainably, creating indicators for sustainability which can lead to strategic planning.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethnographic futures research
• sustainability
• Indigenous methodology
• sustainability indicators
• scenarios
• futures research

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Disclaimer

The author is now employed by the Administration for Native Americans. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the view of the Administration of Native Americans, the Administration for Children and Families, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government. This paper is based on the author’s dissertation work while enrolled at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Notes

1 Additional resources on ethical research can be found through the University of Alaska Fairbanks website: https://www.uaf.edu/irb/professional-standards.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant PLR 1759130, National Science Foundation under Grant PLR 1338850, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship.