CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 149Indigenous Health, Education, and RightsAging and Gerontology ResearchAging, Elder Care, and Social Issues

Research on Indigenous Elders: From Positivistic to Decolonizing Methodologies

Open access
Braun, K. L., Browne, C. V., Ka'opua, L. S., Kim, B. J., Mokuau, N.·2014·The Gerontologist
DOI 10.1093/geront/gnt067PMC PMC3894850
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Although indigenous peoples have lower life expectancies than the social majority populations in their countries, increasing numbers of indigenous people are living into old age. Research on indigenous elders is informed by a number of research traditions. Researchers have mined existing data sets to compare characteristics of indigenous populations with non-indigenous groups, and these findings have revealed significant disparities experienced by indigenous elders. Some investigators have attempted to validate standardized research tools for use in indigenous populations. Findings from these studies have furthered our knowledge about indigenous elders and have highlighted the ways in which tools may need to be adapted to better fit indigenous views of the constructs being measured. Qualitative approaches are popular, as they allow indigenous elders to tell their stories and challenge non-indigenous investigators to acknowledge values and worldviews different from their own. Recently, efforts have extended to participatory and decolonizing research methods, which aim to empower indigenous elders as researchers. Research approaches are discussed in light of the negative experiences many indigenous peoples have had with Eurocentric research. Acknowledgment of historical trauma, life-course perspectives, phenomenology, and critical gerontology should frame future research with, rather than on, indigenous elders.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1093/geront/gnt067

Cites

4 of 4 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Direct comparisons between western and Indigenous research have demonstrated that Indigenous research is equally as valid if not more contextually and culturally salient than western research.

    “Importantly, direct comparisons between western and Indigenous research have demonstrated that Indigenous research is equally as valid if not more contextually and culturally salient than western research (Braun et al., 2014; Cox et al., 2021; Dadich et al., 2019; Mohatt et al., 2004; Rasmus, 2014; Saini, 2012).”

    From Indigenous Elder-centered methodology: research that decolonizes and indigenizes (2023) · cites this paper as Braun et al., 2014

    The Discussion (page not available in our copy) says that all the approaches reviewed are valid and can yield useful data. Decolonizing and Critical Perspectives describes Indigenous methodologies as grounded in a tribe’s place, language, protocol, and worldview. The paper does not report direct comparisons demonstrating equal validity or greater cultural salience than Western research. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The inclusion of AN Elders and the acknowledgment of their wisdom and guidance are central to the research process in its entirety.

    “Furthermore, the inclusion of AN Elders and the acknowledgment of their wisdom and guidance are central to the research process in its entirety (Braun et al., 2014).”

    From Indigenous Elder-centered methodology: research that decolonizes and indigenizes (2023) · cites this paper as Braun et al., 2014

    The Discussion (page not available) recommends that Indigenous elders help navigate their own inquiry and says future research requires partnership with elders, families, and communities. The Qualitative Methods section also describes elders’ cultural knowledge and wisdom. These passages support including and respecting elders, but they do not specifically establish that Alaska Native (AN) elders’ guidance is central throughout the entire research process. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Patrons have noted that Indigenous oral knowledge is underused or missing entirely in fields including medicine, psychology, anthropology, and archeology.

    “Whether it be in medicine, psychology, anthropology, archeology or other fields, our patrons have noted that Indigenous oral knowledge is underused or missing entirely”

    From More Than Personal Communication (2021) · cites this paper as Braun et al. 2014

    The section “Indigenous Experiences With Western Colonization and Research” (page unavailable) says research methods often dismiss or negate Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing. The “Indigenous Data Sets” table also notes the importance of qualitative methods for groups with oral traditions. The paper does not establish that oral knowledge is underused or entirely missing across the specific fields listed in the claim. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Culturally derived research among Indigenous communities is needed and growing within both Indigenous and western contexts.

    “Culturally derived research among Indigenous communities is needed and growing within both Indigenous and western contexts, with the latter demarcating the standard of quality and rigor (Braun et al., 2014; Chilisa, 2019; Kovach, 2021).”

    From Indigenous Elder-centered methodology: research that decolonizes and indigenizes (2023) · cites this paper as Braun et al., 2014

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 50

  1. Bartlett, J. G., Iwasaki, Y., Gottlieb, B., Hall, D., & Mannell, R. (2007). Framework for Aboriginal-guided decolonizing research involving Métis and First Nations persons with diabetes. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 65, 2371-2382. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.06.011 · DOI
  2. Blair, T., & Minkler, M. (2009). Participatory action research with older adults: Key principles in practice. The Gerontologist, 49, 651-662. doi:10.1093/geront/gnp049 · DOI
  3. Braun, K. L., Look, M. A., & Tsark, J. A. (1995). High mortality rates in Native Hawaiians. Hawai'i Medical Journal, 54, 723-729.
  4. Braun, K. L., Mokuau, N., Hunt, G. H., Kaanoi, M., & Gotay, C. C. (2002). Supports and obstacles to cancer survival for Hawaii's native people. Cancer Practice, 10, 192-200. doi:10.1046/j.1523- 5394.2002.104001.x · DOI
  5. Braveheart, M. Y., & Debruyn, L. M. (1998). The American Indian holo- caust: Healing historical unresolved grief. American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research: Journal of the National Center, 8, 56-78. Retrieved from http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/9842066
  6. Browne, C. V., Mokuau, N., & Braun, K. L. (2009). Adversity and resil- iency in the lives of Native Hawaiian elders. Social Work, 54, 253-261. doi:10.1093/sw/54.3.253 · DOI
  7. Dé Ishtar, Z. (2005). Striving for a common language: A white feminist par- allel to indigenous ways of knowing and researching. Women's Studies International Forum, 28, 357-368. doi:10.1016/j.wsif.2005.05.006 · DOI
  8. Denzin, N. K., Lincoln, Y. S., & Smith, L. T. (2008). Handbook of critical and indigenous methodologies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  9. Dickson, G., & Green, K. L. (2001). Participatory action research: Lessons learned with Aboriginal grandmothers. Health Care for Women International, 22, 471-482. doi:10.1080/073993301317094290 · DOI
  10. Evans-Campbell, T. (2008). Historical trauma in American Indian/Native Alaska communities: A multilevel framework for exploring impacts on individuals, families, and communities. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23, 316-338. doi:10.1177/0886260507312290 · DOI · Paper page
  11. Fisher, P. A., & Ball, T. J. (2003). Tribal participatory research: Mechanisms of a collaborative model. American Journal of Community Psychology, 32, 207-216. doi:10.1023/B:AJCP.0000004742.39858. · DOI
  12. Fong, M., Braun, K. L., & Tsark, J. (2003). Improving Native Hawaiian health through community-based participatory research. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 1, 136-148. Retrieved from http://www. cjhp.org/Volume1_2003/IssueHI-TEXTONLY/136-148-fong.pdf
  13. Goins, R. T., Garroutte, E. M., Fox, S. L., Dee Geiger, S., & Manson, S. M. (2011). Theory and practice in participatory research: Lessons from the Native Elder Care Study. The Gerontologist, 51, 285-294. doi:10.1093/geront/gnq130 · DOI
  14. Goodyear-Ka'opua, N. (2013). The seeds we planted. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.
  15. Griffin-Pierce, T., Silverberg, N., Connor, D., Jim, M., Peters, J., Kaszniak, A., et al. (2008). Challenges to the recognition and assessment of Alzheimer's disease in American Indians of the southwestern United States. Alzheimer's & Dementia: the Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 4, 291-299. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2007.10.012 · DOI
  16. Gubrium, J. F. (1992). Qualitative research comes of age in gerontology. The Gerontologist, 32, 581-582. doi:10.1093/geront/32.5.581 · DOI
  17. Hatch, S. L. (2005). Conceptualizing and identifying cumulative adver- sity and protective resources: Implications for understanding health inequalities. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60, 130-134. doi:10.1093/geronb/60.Special_Issue_2.S Health Canada (2011). A statistical profile on the health of First Nations in Canada. Ottawa, Ontario: Health Canada. · DOI
  18. Hennessey, C. H., & John, R. (1995). The interpretation of burden among pueblo Indian caregivers. Journal of Aging Studies, 9, 215-229. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.eres.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/ science/article/pii/0890406595900039#
  19. Holkup, P. A., Salois, E. M., Tripp-Reimer, T., & Weinert, C. (2007). Drawing on wisdom from the past: An elder abuse intervention with tribal communities. The Gerontologist, 47, 248-254. doi:10.1093/ geront/47.2.248 · DOI
  20. Hopkins, S. E., Kwachka, P., Lardon, C., & Mohatt, G. V. (2007). Keeping busy: A Yup'ik/Cup'ik perspective on health and aging. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 66(1), 42-50. Retrieved from http://www.circumpolarhealthjournal.net/index.php/ijch/article/ view/18224/20918
  21. Jackson, D. D., & Chapleski, E. E. (2000). Not traditional, not assimilated: Elderly American Indians and the notion of 'cohort.' Journal of Cross- Cultural Gerontology, 15, 229-259. doi:10.1023/A:1006709411417 · DOI
  22. Jervis, L. L. (2010). Aging, health, and the indigenous people of North America. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 25, 299-301. doi:10.1007/s10823-010-9130-x · DOI
  23. John, R., Hennessey, C. H., Dyeson, T. B., & Garrett, M. D. (2001). Toward the conceptualization and measurement of caregiver burden among Pueblo Indian family caregivers. The Gerontologist, 41, 210- 219. doi:10.1093/geront/41.2.210 · DOI
  24. Ka'opua, L. S., Braun, K. L., Browne, C. V., Mokuau, N., & Park, C. B. (2011). Why are native Hawaiians underrepresented in Hawai'i's older adult population? Exploring social and behavio- ral factors of longevity. Journal of Aging Research, 2011, 701232. doi:10.4061/2011/701232 · DOI
  25. Kleinman, A. (1980). Patients and healers in the context of culture: An exploration of the borderland between anthropology, medicine, and psychiatry. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
  26. Kovach, M. (2009). indigenous methodologies: Characteristics, conversa- tions, and context. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press.
  27. Lanier, A. P., Redwood, D. G., & Kelly, J. J. (2012). The Alaska Education and Research Towards Health (EARTH) Study: Cancer risk factors. Journal of Cancer Education, 27 (Suppl. 1), S80-S85. doi:10.1007/ s13187-012-0333-4 · DOI
  28. Lewis, J. P. (2011). Successful aging through the eyes of Alaska Native elders. What it means to be an elder in Bristol Bay, AK. The Gerontologist, 51, 540-549. doi:10.1093/geront/gnr006 · DOI
  29. Loppie, C. (2007). Learning from the grandmothers: Incorporating indige- nous principles into qualitative research. Qualitative Health Research, 17, 276-284. doi:10.1177/1049732306297905 · DOI
  30. Luborsky, M. R., & Sankar, A. (1993). Extending the critical gerontol- ogy perspective: Cultural dimensions. The Gerontologist, 33, 440-444. doi:10.1093/geront/33.4.440 · DOI
  31. Manson, S. M., Garroutte, E., Goins, R. T., & Henderson, P. N. (2004). Access, relevance, and control in the research process: Lessons from Indian country. Journal of Aging and Health, 16, 58S-77S. doi:10.1177/0898264304268149 · DOI
  32. Mehl-Madrona, L. (2009). What traditional indigenous elders say about cross-cultural mental health training. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 5(1), 20-29. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2008.10.003 · DOI
  33. New Zealand Ministry of Health. (2010). Tatau Kahukura: Māori Health Chart Book 2010 (2nd ed.). Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Ministry of Health.
  34. Puchala, C., Paul, S., Kennedy, C., & Mehl-Madrona, L. (2010). Using traditional spirituality to reduce domestic violence within aboriginal communities. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.), 16(1), 89-96. doi:10.1089/acm.2009.0213 · DOI
  35. Ranzijn, R. (2010). Active ageing-another way to oppress mar- ginalized and disadvantaged elders?: Aboriginal Elders as a case study. Journal of Health Psychology, 15, 716-723. doi:10.1177/1359105310368181 · DOI
  36. Red Horse, J. G. (1980). Family structure and value orientation in American Indians. Social Casework: The Journal of Contemporary Social Work, 68, 462-467. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.state. mn.us/main/groups/children/documents/pub/dhs16_138334.pdf
  37. Rhoades, D. A., Welty, T. K., Wang, W., et al. (2007). Aging and the preva- lence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in older American Indians: The Strong Heart Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 55(1), 87-94. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2006.01018.x · DOI
  38. Riley, M. W. (1971). Social gerontology and the age stratification of society. The Gerontologist, 11(1), 79-87. doi:10.1093/geront/ 11.1_Part_1.79 · DOI
  39. Roué, M. (2006). Healing the wounds of school by returning to the land: Cree elders come to the rescue of a lost generation. International Social Science Journal, 58, 15-24. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2451.2006.00596.x · DOI
  40. Sankar, A. (1993). Culture, research, and policy. The Gerontologist, 33, 437-438. doi:10.1093/geront/33.4.437 · DOI
  41. Slattery, M. L., Schumacher, M. C., Lanier, A. P., et al. (2007). A prospective cohort of American Indian and Alaska Native people: Study design, methods, and implementation. American Journal of Epidemiology, 166, 606-615. doi:10.1093/aje/kwm109 · DOI
  42. Smith, L. T. (2012). Decolonizing methodologies: Research and indigenous peoples (2nd ed.). London: Zed Books.
  43. Sotero, M. M. (2006). A conceptual modal of historical trauma: Implications for public health practice and research. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, 1(1), 93-108. Retrieved from http:// papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1350062
  44. Sztompka, P. (2000). Cultural trauma: The other face of social change. European Journal of Social Theory, 3(4), 449-466. doi:10.1177/136843100003004004 · DOI
  45. Tanjasiri, S. P., Wallace, S. P., & Shibata, K. (1995). Picture imper- fect: Hidden problems among Asian Pacific islander elderly. The Gerontologist, 35, 753-760. doi:10.1093/geront/35.6.753 · DOI
  46. United Nations. (2004, January). The concept of indigenous peoples. Background paper from a workshop on data collection and disaggre- gation for indigenous peoples, New York. Retrieved from: http://www. google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=2 &ved=0CCgQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.un.org%2Fesa%2 Fsocdev%2Funpfii%2Fdocuments%2Fworkshop_data_background. doc&ei=47uFUM22LIe7iwL26ID4Bw&usg=AFQjCNFMb2Ln4AqU EFKk_8ozGuEM8LvcYw United Nations. (2008). Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Geneva: United Nations.
  47. Warburton, J., & McLaughlin, D. (2007). Passing on our culture: How older Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds contribute to civil society. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 22(1), 47-60. doi:10.1007/s10823-006-9012-4 · DOI
  48. Waugh, E., & Mackenzie, L. (2011). Ageing well from an urban indige- nous Australian perspective. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 58(1), 25-33. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1630.2010.00914.x · DOI
  49. Wexler, L. (2011). Intergenerational dialogue exchange and action: Introducing a community-based participatory approach to connect youth, adults and elders in an Alaskan Native community. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 10, 248-264. Retrieved from https:// ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/IJQM/article/view/8940/9005
  50. Zarit, S. H., Reever, K. E., & Bach-Peterson, J. (1980). Relatives of the impaired elderly: Correlates of feelings of burden. The Gerontologist, 20, 649-655. doi:10.1093/geront/20.6.649 · DOI · Paper page

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Braun, K. L., Browne, C. V., Ka'opua, L. S., Kim, B. J., & Mokuau, N.
Affiliations
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
ORCID
Venue
The Gerontologist
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2013-07-10
Volume
54
Issue
1
Pages
117-126
ISSN
  • 0016-9013 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-5341
DOI
10.1093/geront/gnt067
PMC
PMC3894850
OpenAlex
W2104294845
Cited by
149
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 1
FWCI
1.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Gerontologist (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • U.S. Administration on Aging
  • National Cancer Institute (U54CA153459)
  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (U54MD007584, 90OI0006/01)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
Keywords
Indigenous elders, decolonial research, participatory research, life course perspective, historical trauma, critical gerontology, indigenous worldview, phenomenology
MeSH terms
Indigenous Peoples, Aged, Aging, Anthropology, Cultural, Australia, Canada, Geriatrics, Humans, Male, New Zealand, Research Design, United States, Narration, Qualitative Research, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Community-Based Participatory Research

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review