Teaching Indigenous methodology and an Iñupiaq example

In any graduate research methods course, one must teach the underlying assumptions of various research paradigms, and the interrelated philosophical principles of epistemology, ontology and axiology. At an Alaskan university, many people do research and work with Alaska Native communities, so a grasp of an Alaska Native epistemology is crucial. This paper explores how and why Author One, Maureen Hogan, teaches epistemology (in general) and Indigenous epistemology (in particular) in her graduate field-based research methods course. Second, she reflects upon why she may or may not be successful in this task. Throughout the article, Sean Topkok, Author Two, a recent doctoral student, shares how he developed his own Iñupiaq research method, Katimarugut, in the class. To date, an Alaska Native research methodology does not exist. Together, we hope to add one useful model for decolonizing the academy.