Indigenous Persons with Disability in Remote Australia: Research Methodology and Indigenous Community Control

Decolonisation aims to deconstruct the hegemonic traditional
Western academic practices and values that oppress
Indigenous peoples. Decolonising research methodologies
is a relatively new practice in disability research in colonised
nations. This paper details the Indigenous communitycontrolled
research methodology that underpinned a disability
research project with the Anangu and Yarnangu of
Central Australia, ‘Walykumunu Nyinaratjaku: To Live a
Good Life’. The project aimed to identify and explore how
to support Indigenous people with a disability in the
Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Lands to
live a good life. The research was structured on a decolonising
methodology to situate the control and governance
of the research with the Indigenous peoples. Our experience
could assist other disability researchers working with
Indigenous peoples in remote communities.