Robert Hicks
Indigenous Researcher, Educator & Digital Storyteller
Dedicated to supporting Indigenous communities through ethical research, traditional knowledge preservation, and community-controlled storytelling initiatives.
Mission Statement
To bridge traditional Indigenous knowledge with contemporary research methodologies, ensuring that Indigenous communities maintain sovereignty over their data, stories, and research outcomes while addressing critical community health and wellness needs.
Professional Journey
A decade of commitment to Indigenous research excellence and community partnership
Indigenous Research Lead, Community Health Organization
Leading community-based participatory research initiatives focused on Indigenous health and traditional food systems, securing over $1.5M in grant funding.
Digital Storytelling Facilitator, First Nations Technology Council
Developed and delivered ethical frameworks for Indigenous digital storytelling, training over 150 community members in multimedia documentation.
Community Research Coordinator
Coordinated multi-year research projects, focusing on relational methodologies and honoring Indigenous ways of knowing.
Graduate Research Assistant
Supported senior researchers while completing graduate studies, contributing to publications on Indigenous health policy.
Areas of Expertise
Specialized knowledge spanning Indigenous research methodologies and community-centered approaches
Research Philosophy
"Research should serve the community, not extract from it. Every methodology, every question, every outcome must honor the sovereignty and wisdom of Indigenous peoples."
- Core Research Principle
Community-Centered
All research emerges from and serves Indigenous community needs and priorities
Relational Methodologies
Building knowledge through relationships, reciprocity, and mutual respect
Traditional Knowledge Integration
Honoring Indigenous ways of knowing alongside contemporary research methods
Data Sovereignty
Ensuring communities maintain control over their data, stories, and research outcomes
Decolonial Practice
Challenging colonial research paradigms and centering Indigenous perspectives
Community Impact
Research that creates tangible benefits for Indigenous communities and peoples
Academic Foundation
Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies
University of British Columbia
Dissertation: "Story as Method, Story as Medicine: Decolonizing Research Through Narrative"
M.A. in Public Health
Simon Fraser University
Focus: Indigenous Health Systems and Policy
B.A. in Anthropology
University of Victoria
Minor: Digital Media and Storytelling
Publications
Story as Method, Story as Medicine: Decolonizing Research Through Narrative
Journal of Indigenous Studies, 2023
A Framework for Indigenous Data Sovereignty in Health Research
International Journal of Public Health, 2022
The Spirit of the Land: Traditional Foods and Community Wellness
Journal of Community Health, 2020
Let's Collaborate
I'm always open to partnerships with Indigenous communities, researchers, and organizations committed to ethical, community-centered research and storytelling.