Since the publication of Decolonizing Methodologies by Linda Tuhiwai Smith in 1999, a deconstructing discussion around the role and character of indigenous research in Western academia has gained momentum. This paper provides a general overview of an indigenous research paradigm which is an umbrella term for various theoretical and methodological approaches privileging indigenous worldviews in scholarship. While recognizing a possibility to define foundational assumptions for indigenous studies, many scholars notice an inherent risk of essentialization that comes with such attempts. The development of Diné (Navajo) studies provides a specific example of how indigenous scholars construct culturally-relevant theoretical frameworks, implement culturally-appropriate methods, and negotiate their identities as members of academia and of their respective communities. The paper concludes with a brief discussion about the relations between indigenous studies and anthropology, the use of indigenous research methods in anthropology, and questions about future collaborations.
