Fourteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Following the 2016 Tropical Cyclone, Winston, in Fiji, indigenous Pacific focus groups, or Talanoa, were carried out at a monthly women leader’s gathering in three districts around Fiji (with 10-15 women leaders in each group), to understand the use of communications technology by the women leaders, in the context of resiliency to Tropical Cyclone Winston. This poster discusses some of the experiences of the use of Talanoa, including the advantages of working with a cultural liaison, use of notes during Talanoa, need for translation of consent, and issues related to IRB, as well as the importance of semi-structured questions, to allow for natural conversation appropriate to Talanoa research methods, and consultative practices. Other characteristics, such as provision of hospitality and honorariums will also be discussed. Positionality, including the importance of recognizing the researcher’s position, and limit ‘clinical gaze’, as a non-Pacific indigenous person, as well as the importance of a local ‘champion’ to facilitate co-ordination with the Talanoa groups are presented. Finally, the importance of inclusion of indigenous Pacific Islands stakeholders in the design and implementation at all stages of the research process are also shared.