Indigenous groups in India blacklist researchers to protect land and culture
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In Arunachal Pradesh, the Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society, representing the Idu Mishmi community, blacklisted four researchers. Rajkamal Goswami, Aavika Dhanda, Krushnamegh Kunte, and Fahim Khan, for violating their research ethics code.
The society accused the researchers of beginning work without final approval from the community’s Research and Ethics Review Board and of discriminatory practices.
The decision stems from a growing movement by Indigenous communities in India to control research conducted on their land and protect their cultural heritage from what they consider exploitative practices rooted in colonialism. The Idu Mishmi developed their code in 2024 after observing instances of data appropriation and misrepresentation of their community by researchers. They require researchers to purchase a copy of the code, submit proposals for review, and obtain village-level approval before beginning work.
Similar efforts are underway elsewhere in India, such as on the Nicobar Islands, where the tribal council recently published guidelines for researchers, requiring them to inform local leaders and submit project details. These communities emphasize the principle of free, prior, and informed consent, seeking to decolonize research practices and empower themselves. They point to a history of researchers misinterpreting communities and disregarding their traditional knowledge, sometimes leading to policies that negatively impact them.
While India lacks dedicated laws governing research ethics with tribal communities, these local guidelines are supported by international conventions and domestic laws protecting Indigenous rights.
