This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Broad, G. Articles by Reyes, J. A. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Speaking for ourselves

A Colombia—Canada research collaboration

Algoma University College, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada, gayle.broad{at}algomau.ca

José Agustin Reyes

Asopricor Holistic Association, Department of Cundinamarca, Colombia, josereyes2004{at}yahoo.com

As an Assistant Professor in Community Economic and Social Development (CESD) at Algoma University College, Ontario, Canada and a member of Asopricor Holistic Association, Cundinamarca, Colombia, respectively, the authors have engaged in an ongoing dialogue regarding the inherent contradictions of forming a North—South, university—community research collaboration. For those who have engaged in and/or read about action research, the questions addressed in this article are familiar: How can we maintain respectful relations between us? How can we ensure the project respects local knowledge? How can we ensure the ownership of the new knowledge created by the project remains with the collective? How can we balance the power dynamics between ourselves, and between the organizations involved? What the article offers, is a dialogical reflection on how these challenges are being met within this particular project. It examines the development of a common set of values and beliefs that emerge as the researchers attempt to engage within the `ethical space' (Ermine, 2005) necessary for the development of a respectful collaboration. The article explores and develops a series of questions for researchers to consider as they struggle to find common ground where such an exchange, crossing cultural and power divides, can occur.

Key Words: community— university partnerships • ethical space • informal learning • social transformation

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?