Community Development and Research. Aboriginal Peoples Collection = Developpement Communautaire et Recherches. Collection sur les Autochtones.

This report provides Canadian Aboriginal communities with information and resources for carrying out participatory action research and applying the results to community development. Presented in English and French, the report is based on a literature review and a 2-day focus group involving 14 community development experts, Aboriginal community members, academic researchers, and federal agency staff. Part 1 defines the elements of community-controlled development, discusses the role of the federal government in Aboriginal community development, and recommends community action materials. Examples include innovative community-based solutions to family violence and abuse and development of a tribal justice system and a community-based youth court. Part 2 examines research issues, focusing on the community's relationship with outside researchers and consultants, decisions about research needs and relevance, funding, and research ethics. This section also presents steps in doing a community research project: deciding on what research and why; getting started (community involvement and conflicts, research setting, university technical assistance); applying research to community development (politics of research, perils of publication, using community resources); and using consultants and outside resources. A short directory defines typical funding criteria and lists funding guides, funding sources for Aboriginal communities, financial assistance for Aboriginal people pursuing legal studies or human rights education or research, and funding for cross-cultural training related to Aboriginal justice. Focus group participants and their addresses are listed. (SV)