Research as Performance and as Activism or Subjects and Informants as Innovators and as Activists

Abstract

Research meant to be the exercise of the experts and the ‘ordinary people are treated as subjects or informants’. In even stronger terms, Raymond Williams challenged the class-based arrogance of scriptocentrism, pointing to the ‘error’ and ‘delusion’ of highly educated people who are ‘so driven in on their reading’ that ‘they fail to notice the existence of other forms of skilled, intelligent, creative activity’ such as ‘theatre’ and ‘active politics’. Linda Tuhiwai Smith identifies and critiques the intersections of imperialism, knowledge, and research. According to Tuhiwai Smith, dominant mainstream western cultures conceive of research activities implicated in broader popular and legal discourses that distort or silence other ways of knowing and being. One consequence for indigenous peoples is what she calls ‘research through imperial eyes’, knowledge largely useless for native kinship communities and too often useful for further colonization. As a person living in a society dependent on and controlled by external forces in every aspect, the discovery of people's power is a great achievement. Kathie Irwin urges, "We don't need anyone else developing the tools which will help us to come to terms with who we are. We can and we will do this work. Real power lies with those who design the tools it always has. This power is ours.”(Irwin,K 1992:5).