*2.1. Decolonizing Research*

Decolonizing research de-centres the focus from the aims of non-Indigenous researchers to the needs of Indigenous Peoples [35]. It is a process that requires unlearning Western-centric research practices, from data collection and analysis to participant engagement and knowledge sharing, in order to dissociate research from its colonial roots [34,37,38]. While community-based participatory research is commonly applied to community-focused research [41], this does not necessarily mean that projects are community-driven or take a "decolonizing" lens. Decolonizing research requires an active stance—it is an iterative process whereby each aspect of research and engagement is unpacked to understand the potential colonial underpinnings, and reassessed with a decolonized lens. Engaging in this process warrants dedicated time and reflection, and while I describe my experience in the FEEDS Project as a case study below, the topic cannot be done justice in a single paper. Decolonizing methods can be explored in depth through the works of scholars including Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith [35].
