The Australian Journal of Rural Health (AJRH) is collaborating with the open-access journal, Rural and Remote Health (RRH) and the Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine (CJRM) to advance the inclusivity and profile of Indigenous authors and communities engaged in rural health research.
The three journals have published a joint declaration, Position Statement: Research and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Rural Health Journals, written by their respective Editors and Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, which commits the journals to, “publish nothing about Indigenous People, without Indigenous People”.
Lead author on the Position Statement, Indigenous Australian Dr Mark Lock (Ngiyampaa) and Associate Editor of the AJRH says, “We have made a joint declaration to raise the voice of Indigenous People in the academic and rural health research arenas in our countries”.
“This means that the AJRH will ensure that its published research is undertaken by and with Indigenous authors and communities, and that Indigenous authors, like me, are readily identifiable in publications by acknowledging our Nations as well as academic credentials.
“Further, the Editorial Boards of the three journals will reject submitted papers concerning Indigenous communities that do not acknowledge an Indigenous author or provide evidence of an inclusive process of Indigenous community engagement.
“Through the Position Statement, we are calling for all rural health researchers to join us in developing a culturally safe academic publishing process through co-design and genuine engagement with Indigenous Nations worldwide,” Dr Lock said.
The Position Statement will be accompanied by the Policy Paper, Indigenous Cultural Identity of Authors in Rural Health Research Policy (in review by the authors*), which provides details on the range of considerations that, if addressed, would enable a more culturally safe academic publishing system.
* Mark John Lock1, Faye Beverley McMillan2, Bindi Bennett3, Jodie Lea Martire, Donald Warne4, Jacquie Kidd5, Naomi G Williams6, Russell Roberts7, Paul Worley8, Peter Hutten-Czapski9
1 Ngiyampaa
2 Wiradjuri
3 Gamilaraay
4 Oglala Lakota
5 Ngāpuhi
6 Anishinaabe
7 AJRH
8 RRH
9 CJRM