Abstract submissions are now CLOSED

All authors will be notified of the outcome by 22nd August.

All presenters need to be registered by Friday 20th September 2024, to guarantee your place in the IIRC programme

Thank you for your interest in submitting an abstract for the 12th International Indigenous Research Conference – IIRC 2024. It is our honour to enable and host IIRC in person to create an international stage for engagement, sharing and future shaping of globally relevant Indigenous-led research. 

An in-person conference

After navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re excited to return to an in-person format, fostering connections and solidarity among Indigenous researchers. Since our last in-person conference in 2018, we’ve embraced online formats in 2020 and 2022, but nothing replaces the richness of face-to-face interactions.

We invite live paper and poster submissions from people who intend to join us in-person at IIRC2024. The conference will not have any virtual capability.

An Indigenous-Led Conference 

IIRC conferences are about empowering Indigenous research, Indigenous researchers and Indigenous communities. 

All paper submissions must be Indigenous-led and presented. The lead presenter on a paper will need to clearly indicate their Indigenous/traditional affiliations in the space provided in the abstract submission. 

Submissions received that are not clearly Indigenous-led will not be considered. 

Conference theme

The theme of the conference is Whītiki Taua : Research Solidarities. All speakers and activities will contribute to our knowledge and understanding of the theme. The dimensions of the conference theme are described below. In the abstract portal, you will be asked to select which is most relevant to your abstract submission.

Whītiki Taua : Research Solidarities

“Whītiki Taua” is our conference theme. It embodies the bond and collective strength within communities, while “Research Solidarities” emphasises collaborative research endeavours within Indigenous contexts. Together, they symbolise the power of solidarity, knowledge sharing, and collective empowerment. 

IIRC Sub-themes

IIRC invites abstract submission that address the overall theme for the conference, and in particular, the sub-themes that follow below.

1. Whakamana | Empowerment

Research to amplify diverse Indigenous voices, equitable collaborations, respectful engagements with traditional knowledge, and the cultivation of solutions that honour and elevate Indigenous peoples, rights, and self-determination.

Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, cultural revitalisation, decolonisation, identity affirmation, diverse Indigenous voices, narrative reclaiming, community flourishing, traditional practices, epistemic justice, cultural pride.

2. Tika | Justice

Research to catalyse activism, resistance and advocacy for justice, land sovereignty, equity, and policy reform to combat systemic, social, cultural abuse and injustice.

Keywords: Social justice, land sovereignty, policy reform, systemic change, activism, protest, Indigenous rights, community resilience, sustainable development, climate justice.

3. Hauora | Wellbeing

Research to empower Indigenous communities through activism and transformative approaches to address disparities in healthcare access, mental health, and holistic well-being, advocating for responsive and Indigenous-led services, strategies and systemic change.

Keywords: Health equity, mental health advocacy, cultural competency, healthcare sovereignty, community wellness, holistic healing, Indigenous resilience, traditional medicine, social determinants of health, intersectionality, pandemic responses.

4. Rangatiratanga | Sovereignty

Research activism to reclaim and revitalise Indigenous languages and cultural practices, resisting cultural erasure and promoting linguistic and cultural sovereignty for future generations.

Keywords: Language revitalization, cultural preservation, linguistic diversity, intergenerational transmission, cultural sovereignty, Indigenous languages, heritage preservation, language rights, cultural revitalization, community-led initiatives.

5. Toitū | Sustainability

Research that drives transformative change and resistance against exploitative practices, promoting wise and ethical technological innovations and sustainable development models that empower Indigenous communities.

Keywords: Sustainable development and livelihoods, ethical innovation, community empowerment, Indigenous entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship, technological transformation, Indigenous planning, engineering and architecture, social and digital innovation, Indigenous sovereignty, resilient communities, data sovereignty.

6. Tohetohe | Resistance

Research to document, support, and amplify Indigenous-led protest and resistance movements, fostering solidarity networks and coalition-building for collective action and positive outcomes for Indigenous peoples.

Keywords: Activism, solidarity, collective action, protest, decolonization, Indigenous sovereignty, resistance strategies, social justice movements, coalition-building, Indigenous leadership, systemic oppression.

Conference language

English will be the language for official announcements, directions, facilitation, keynotes, posters, and papers presentations. Māori will be used frequently throughout the conference and will be the language for the powhiri – welcoming ceremony. All attendees are encouraged to use and give voice to their Indigenous languages.

LIVE means LIVE

There is nothing like an in-person conference. IIRC will present opportunities for networking with speakers, keynotes and IIRC participants, things that are very difficult to achieve in a virtual conference. For this reason, we will only be accepting abstracts where the lead presenter is able to attend IIRC in person. IIRC will not have virtual capabilities, that is, we will not be able to ZOOM speakers into conference.

One submission per lead rule

The number of live and poster presentations that IIRC can accommodate in its programme is limited. IIRC will endeavour to accommodate a submission’s preferred presentation type but this may not be possible if the number of delegates requesting a presentation type exceeds the number of slots available.  The one submission per lead rule will apply to ensure we accommodate as many presenters as possible. This means that a lead presenter/author may only submit one abstract. This does not prevent them from being part of a presentation team who submits some other abstract.

Types of presentations 

1. Oral Presentation – Live 
2. Panel Presentation – Live
3. Poster – Live

Oral presentation – Live (interactive meeting style)

Panel presentation – Live (interactive meeting style) 

Panels entail presentation of prepared papers on a specific topic or theme, followed by structured discussion of those papers during the allocated speaking time. 

Panels will be a 60-minute session and the timing allocated within the 60-minute slot to each presenter is to be determined by the panel organiser. Panels should comprise four or more authors presenting on a specific topic or theme. Each paper must have a full abstract and full author information. Each panel requires a Chair, which can be self-nominated (please indicate this during the submission process).

Poster presentation – Live (interactive meeting style) 

Early abstract submissions

Early abstract submissions close Monday 17th June 2024 11:59pm NZST 

Early abstract submissions offer abstract submitters the advantage of being notified early about their acceptance or otherwise, allowing ample time to organise funding,  travel arrangements and preparation, contributing to a smoother conference experience overall. Those who choose the early abstract pathway will be notified of the outcome of the abstract review by the 15 July 2024.

We look forward to receiving your abstract submission