The Health and Wellbeing of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples around the Globe

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to contribute to a Special Issue on The Health and Wellbeing of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples around the Globe in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

This Special Issue is intended to showcase best practice in research across a broad range of topic areas relating to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous and Tribal peoples around the world, with a particular emphasis on work that goes beyond mere description and seeks to implement and evaluate positive change at a local, regional, national, or global level. In keeping with our focus on Indigenous and Tribal peoples, our definition of health and wellbeing is a holistic one, incorporating physical, mental, social, emotional, spiritual, and cultural aspects, as well as family and community and connection to land and waters across time.

Indigenous and Tribal peoples across the world continue to be adversely affected by the ongoing impacts of colonization and dispossession, past and present racism and discrimination, socioeconomic disadvantage, and reduced access to services, all of which are manifested in disparities across a range of outcomes. Research can be a tremendous force for good, provided it reflects the needs and priorities of Indigenous and Tribal peoples and is conducted in ways that empower Indigenous and Tribal people and communities. All too often, this has not been the case, but things have begun to change in recent years. This Special Issue will showcase the ways in which appropriate, high-quality research can help us to understand and overcome the complex inequities experienced by Indigenous and Tribal peoples around the globe.

We welcome manuscripts reporting research conducted by, with, and for the benefit of Indigenous and Tribal peoples. Papers should reflect the values of respect, reciprocity, and partnership, and address the priorities, needs, and aspirations of Indigenous and Tribal peoples. The keywords below are indicative only and are intended to indicate the breadth of areas of interest for the Special Issue. We are particularly interested in strengths-based approaches, Indigenist research methodologies, multidisciplinary research, and research investigating structural and system level issues (including but not limited to racism and discrimination). While we welcome submissions about Indigenous and Tribal peoples in the lands now known as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US, we strongly encourage work relating to Indigenous and Tribal peoples in other parts of the world.

All papers submitted for consideration should include a paragraph in the Methods section briefly detailing: (a) the nature of the engagement, involvement and leadership by Indigenous/Tribal people and communities in the project; (b) ethics and governance considerations in relation to Indigenous/Tribal peoples; and (c) whose priorities are reflected in the work.

We look forward to receiving your submissions.

 

Prof Joan Cunningham
A/Prof Lisa Whop
Dr Kalinda Griffiths
Dr Abbey Diaz