Presentation by Andrew Hatala, Ph.D. and Lucia Ellis at the 2nd Belize National Research Conference, 2019.

Abstract

There is a rich history of socio-cultural research about the diverse Indigenous peoples of Belize. Over the years, many Maya and Garifuna communities and local organizations have developed their own protocols for research. These processes, however, are often limited in scope and reflective of one or two communities that may be involved in particular research studies. Currently, there are no national frameworks for engaging with Belizean Indigenous peoples in ethical research processes despite recommendations for this from International agencies and neighbouring Central American countries. During this presentation we will draw on several years of research engagement with Indigenous peoples in Belize and Canada, including current ethical guidelines and frameworks that may exist, to offer some insights and principles for consideration regarding the development of a national ethical framework for research with Indigenous peoples and communities in Belize.

Key words: socio-cultural, Indigenous communities, research ethics, cultural relativism, cultural policy