Indigenous youth engagement in research: a scoping review of community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) in Canada and the USA

• Published in: International journal of adolescence and youth 2025-12, Vol.30 (1)
• Main Authors: Carolyn M. Melro, Amy Bombay, Margaret Robinson, Debbie Martin, Kira Bombay, Lisa S. Hackett
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: community-based participatory action research (CBPAR); Community-based participatory research (CBPR); decision-making; Indigenous; youth; youth engagement
• ISSN: 0267-3843; 2164-4527
• DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2024.2435264

Community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) is founded on meaningful collaboration with communities in the design and execution of research. CBPAR is gaining traction as an ethical and effective approach to research with underserved populations, including Indigenous youth. This scoping review examined 134 CBPAR studies involving Indigenous youth in Canada and the United States, to identify when, how, and to what extent Indigenous youth were engaged in research. Youth engagement was analysed on a continuum defined by the extent of decision-making throughout research. Indigenous youth participated in research decision-making in 62% of studies examined, with wide variation in extent and style of engagement. Youth wisdom and voices were often underutilized or undescribed in research decisions. However, many cases demonstrate that Indigenous youth can and do contribute meaningfully to research with and about their peers. Findings support a need for transparent reporting on how youth engagement is enacted in CBPAR.