Culturally Sensitive Field Protocol: The Manomin Project

This field protocol was developed to guide respectful, ethical and culturally sensitive research activities in the project, Intensifying manomin (Zizania palustris) growth in environments altered by colonial settlement in ways that are responsive to Anishinaabe knowledge and values. The Manomin Project, funded by George Weston Ltd., aims to integrate environmental data retrieved by University of Guelph (UofG) researchers with cultural and ecological knowledge from Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation with the objective of restoring Manomin (commonly known in English as “wild rice”) on the Upper Winnipeg River. At present, the Research Ethics Board at U of G does not recognize Manomin as a spirit being like the Anishinabeg do. Due to differences in cultural beliefs and ways of knowing, it was essential to the project that a culturally sensitive field protocol be developed to sustain a healthy and respectful relationship between U of G researchers, Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation (NAN), and Manomin (a non-human collaborator).本野外研究规程（field protocol）专为指导"强化曼诺明（manomin，学名Zizania palustris）在殖民定居改造环境中生长、并契合阿尼希纳贝族（Anishinaabe）知识与价值观"这一研究项目中的合规、伦理且兼顾文化敏感性的科研活动而制定。由乔治·韦斯顿有限公司（George Weston Ltd.）资助的曼诺明研究项目，旨在将圭尔夫大学（University of Guelph，简称UofG）研究人员获取的环境数据，与尼萨奇万阿尼希纳贝族（Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation，简称NAN）的文化与生态知识相结合，目标是在温尼伯河上游恢复曼诺明（英文俗称"野米"）的种群。目前，圭尔夫大学的研究伦理审查委员会（Research Ethics Board）并未如阿尼希纳贝族那般，将曼诺明视作精神存在。鉴于双方在文化信仰与认知方式上存在差异，本项目亟需制定兼顾文化敏感性的野外研究规程，以维系圭尔夫大学研究人员、尼萨奇万阿尼希纳贝族（NAN）与曼诺明（非人类协作伙伴）之间健康且相互尊重的合作关系。