’Relationships, respect, reciprocity’ guide Indigenous researcher’s teaching principles

Katie Big-Canoe, Jamie Voogt, Chantelle Richmond and Desmond Moser at Moraviantown First Nation (submitted photo). Chantelle Richmond's research and teaching is guided by three R's: respect, relationships and reciprocity. Richmond recently reflected on these principles, rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, as a panelist at the 2021 annual public meeting of the. Invited as a trailblazer in Indigenous scholarship, Richmond shared her perspective as the Canada Research Chair, Indigenous Health and the Environment , the director of Western's Indigenous Health Lab , leader of the Indigenous Mentorship Network of Ontario , and as an Anishinaabe member of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation. Artist Tania Willard, assistant professor in creative studies and visual arts at University of British Columbia Okanagan, joined Richmond on the panel, moderated by former Prime Minister Paul Martin, founder of the Martin Family Initiative , a charitable organization focusing on the early childhood and education of Indigenous children and youth. Richmond and Willard are part of a growing group of Indigenous scholars integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into research that could drive powerful change to address pressing issues in health care and climate change. Western News sat down with Richmond following the CFI meeting to learn more about her work incorporating Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing into her teaching and her research.