Indigenous communities on both sides of the Tasman are in constant demand to collaborate with the science community in programmes of work especially projects that have an environmental interaction, like the native estate and marine ecosystems. Currently, there is no structure or consistency to the manner in which these communities engage and the terms in which they are often required to comply with are not theirs but more often those of the people seeking their participation.
Indigenous communities have born witness to all frailties of engagement from the “Fly-in - Fly-out” brigade to those that insist there is “important Information to share” and the “we” are on very tight schedule.” We know this cannot continue, and that these communities deserve to better, especially when being courted to collaborate with entities desiring their participation.
This project identified models for effective engagement with indigenous communities in New Zealand and Australia, by establishing cross-cultural linkages. These cross-cultural linkages provide an exciting and novel approach for effective engagement with indigenous communities. The team-evaluated methods for engaging indigenous communities in science and innovation, particularly to more effectively recognise and respond to risks and threats that portend traditional crops, hunting grounds, and collection sites.