The Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies was founded at Churchill, Manitoba in 1977, and incorporated in 1978. Registered as a charitable or ganization, ACUNS is a voluntary association of Canadian universities that have northern interests. 
The purpose of the Association is the advancement of northern scholarship through education, professional and scientific training and research. 
From its very inception, ACUNS has concerned itself with ethical principles for research in the North and for reciprocal relations between northerners and the university community. Toward this end, the Association is now making every effort to ensure that all northern communities, groups and interested parties receive copies of these ethical principles. It is, of course, also being disseminated as widely as possible to all university researchers intending to work in the North. Only through such dissemination and good will between all concerned will the spirit and intent of these principles become effective. 
ACUNS will continue to promote these ethical principles through every opportunity available to it. 

Tony Williamson, Chairman 
ACUNS Committee on Relations With Northern Peoples

Since 1982, the Association’s statement of ethical principles for the conduct of research in the North has become one of the most widely disseminated and reproduced in Canada. Times, however, have changed in the North. Northern communities, governments, groups and individuals have pointed out that the principles needed adjustment to reflect developments in the North since then. We believe that the revised statement more accurately reflects the needs and concerns of northern communities and of the researchers who work there. 
ACUNS maintains its commitment to the advancement of northern scholarship but recognizes that such scholarship and research takes place among people with a stake in the work being done. Partnership is the by-word. Partnerships, however, must be founded on mutual understanding and trust. We see this revised statement of principles contributing to establishing that atmosphere. Many people helped to develop this revised statement and we wish to thank them all. 
 

Amanda Graham, Yukon College 
Jim McDonald, University of Northern British Columbia 
ACUNS Board Committee on Revising the Ethical Principles

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In too many cases, researchers have worked in isolated communities without regard for the people who live there. Communities have been disrupted, and essential local resources used without consultation. Privacy is difficult in small communities, creating additional problems for participants. Guidelines, or principles, are needed so that research may be carried on with a minimum of friction and social disruption. 
The principles proposed here are intended to pro mote co-operation and mutual respect between resear chers and the people of the North. 

Northerners are involved with research in several different ways: 

1. As research subjects;
2. Providing information;
3. As part of a research team;
4. Using the completed research; or
5. Identifying research needs.

Since the publication of the Ethical Principles in 1982, they have proven their worth by becoming the most widely cited and adopted among northern researchers in Canada. Since 1981 the situation in the North has changed significantly. First Nations, Inuvialuit, and Inuit have settled land claims and, in many cases, related Self-Government Agreements. Land and other regimes have altered. Researchers now find the research context shifting, often unpredictably. Communities have sometimes found themselves and their concerns disregarded by researchers. A renewed research relationship has been called for and is emerging. 
A new spirit of partnership between northerners and researchers is emerging in northern research. Of course, the nature of any particular partnership will depend on the specific project. The new partnership ethic, however, emphasizes the need to create meaningful relationships with the people and communities affected by research. 
Another change is the increasing involvement of northerners not only as subjects or passive observers of research but in all aspects of the research process. Northerners are actively involved in research from conception to reporting, from funding to licensing. 
For all parties to benefit fully from research partnerships, mutual understanding is critical. High quality research depends both on communities understanding the needs and concerns of researchers and on researchers understanding the needs and concerns of communities. 
Guidelines, or principles, are needed to provide a foundation for and to foster a mutual understanding of community and researcher needs and goals and to ensure that research is carried out with the least friction and social disruption and the most co-operation and support. 
The 20 principles presented here are intended to encourage the development of co-operation and mutual respect between researchers and the people of the North. They are also intended to encourage partnership between northern peoples and researchers that, in turn, will promote and enhance northern scholarship. 
Northerners are involved with research in many different ways (The numbers in parentheses indicate their 1982 order.): 

1. As researchers;
2. As members of a research team (3.);
3. As partners in a research collaboration;
4. As research subjects (1.);
5. As sources of information (2.);
6. As users of completed research (4.);
7. As clients (5.);
8. As funders;
9. As licensors; or
10. As individuals experiencing and living with the impact of research.

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Commentary: 
The social, political and regulatory regime has changed considerably since the Ethical Principles were first published in 1982. Researchers should be aware of and respect the laws and regulations that apply to the lands on or the communities in which they work. 

Commentary: 
This new principle reflects some of the important changes that have occurred in the North.

Commentary: 
The additional sentence recognizes the community also has certain responsibilities as a partner in research.

Commentary: 
“Researchers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the cultures and traditions of local com munities” is added to ensure consideration of the cross-cultural situation of the North.

Commentary: 
“. . .and respect that knowledge and experience in the research process. The incorporation of relevant traditional knowledge into all stages of research is encouraged” is added.

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Commentary: 
Partnerships are attractive because both parties benefit.

6. No research should begin without the consent of those who might be affected. 

9. [Informed consent should be obtained from each participant in research, as well as from the community at large.]

Commentary: 
We’ve incorporated the suggestion we received to make this statement read “No research should begin without the informed consent of those who might be affected or of their legal guardian,” and to delete tje revised original principle #9: “Informed consent should be obtained from each participant in research or from their legal guardian.” 
After further consultation, we decided to delete the largely redundant original principle #5, which said that “No research should begin before being fully explained to those who might be affected,” because full explanation, informed consent and community consultation are embodied in most of the other principles. We also changed the wording because it became clear that “those affected” was too loose a concept as well as to recognize that some distinction should be made in the notion of “direct or unreasonable effect” that permits legitimate but possibly uncomfortable effects, e.g., the revelations of historical research.

Commentary: 
Specifying the research as “research involving human subjects” recognizes there are different categories of research in the North that require different relationships with northern communities and individuals. The original statement seemed to us to intend that it apply to “research involving human subjects” though it did not specify that, possibly leading to confusion about what specific types of data-gathering techniques require informed consent and which do not.

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16. All research reports should be sent to the communities involved.

Commentary: 
We have adopted this principle verbatim from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council guidelines for ethical research.

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The principles refer to research in its broadest sense, including fundamental or applied research in the physical, biological, or social sciences. Surveys or moni toring studies would also be included. 

In general, “research” includes all technological activities in the North. Even mineral and petroleum exploration surveys would be expected to honour the general principles. However, the more detailed principles on informed consent and reporting of research results are meant specifically for researchers and might not apply to all technological activities. 

The principles focus on those aspects of science that affect local people, communities and their environment. Even where research does not involve the local people in an obvious way, it may still have effects on the land, water or wildlife of the region, and may thus affect the people indirectly. 
 
The word “community” is not restricted to the area of settlement. The surrounding land that supplies resources for the settlement, and the people who live on the surrounding land, are viewed as part of the com munity. 

The geographic area of concern includes the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories Nouveau-Québec, Labrador, and the northern parts of the provinces from Ontario to British Columbia (the Extreme North, Far North and Middle North as defined by Louis-Edmond Hamelin (1975)). Although the emphasis is on isolated northern communities, the general principles are not unique to the North and most of them could be applied elsewhere.
 

The principles refer to research in its broadest sense, including fundamental or applied research in the physical, biological, or social sciences. Surveys or monitoring studies would also be included. 

In general, “research” includes all technological activities in the North. Even mineral and petroleum exploration surveys would be expected to honour the gen eral principles. However, the more detailed principles on informed consent are meant specifically for researchers whose work involves human subjects and might not apply to purely technological activities. 

The principles, however, hold that where such activities might affect individuals or communities, there be consultation because the principles focus on the practical aspects of science that can affect local people, communities and the environment. Even where research does not involve local people in an obvious way, it may still have effects on the land, water or wildlife of the region, and may thus affect the people indirectly. 

The word “community” is not restricted to a limited area of settlement. The surrounding land that supplies resources for the settlement and the people who live there are viewed as part of the community. In addition, there are communities of interest within geographical communities. These, too, should be considered where research activities might affect them. 

The geographic area of concern includes the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories and its successors (Nunavut and the currently unnamed Western Territory), Nouveau-Québec, Nunavik (Labrador), and the northern parts of the provinces from Ontario to British Columbia (the Extreme North, Far North and Middle North as defined by Louis-Edmond Hamelin (1975)). Although the emphasis is on isolated northern communities, these general principles are not unique to the North and most of them could be applied elsewhere.

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Two major tasks must begin if these principles are to be put into operation: 

1. Continuing assessment of the principles; and 
2. Development of codes of practice that will incorporate these principles. 

The first task, assessment and re-assessment, requires that the principles be widely discussed. Information on the principles should be given to northern communities and organizations, and to scientists. Critical comments should be sought from all parties. The feedback will provide the basis for assessing and honing the prin ciples. 

The second task, developing practical procedures, is important if the general principles are to be applied in specific cases. The administration and planning of research projects should proceed in ways that result in direct application of the principles. Workable methods will vary from region to region, and the principles will have to prove practical in the field. This means that codes of good practice can be developed only from test cases where such principles are being applied. This longer term task can begin immediately because some organizations are already using research guidelines oftheir own. It is hoped that those organizations will share their experiences as the general principles and codes of practice are developed.

In applying these principles to actual research, it is important to understand what they are not intended to do. They are not intended to regulate northern research —that is the responsibility of sponsoring organizations, northern governments or communities whose laws, guidelines and protocols will compel certain behaviour. And they are certainly not intended to be the last word on this matter. They are, instead, intended to guide the conduct of research in the North in general ways. They are conceived as general principles that will encourage research that is fair, honest, open and, where necessary, conducted with the consent and cooperation of whatever people or communities will be involved or affected or who might benefit or suffer harm from the research. 

Some types of physical science or exploratory research might not appear to require the researcher to consider all the principles we've included here. This is a particularly important point. Research on physical phenomena at a distance from communities, traplines, hunting territories or traditional lands, might need no thing beyond the applicable permits. In other areas, the situation might require discussion of a project with a community. A researcher might not need to secure, for example, the informed consent of an individual as aparticipant or a subject in the research project. Nevertheless, the researcher might have to consider securing informed consent of an individual who might be a partner, a collaborator, or an informant, or of an individual or a community that might have to live with the effects of the research results or of its actual conduct (on com munity relations, game, land, water, etc.). 

The situation in the North has changed considerably in the fifteen years since these Principles were first articulated. Both those who ask questions and those who help to supply the answers have new needs. Respect is vital in all aspects of the research enterprise. Respect for knowledge, expertise, world views, ways of life must flow in all directions. Genuine respect will enhance the research enterprise in the North and benefit all who live and work there.

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These principles are based on “Ethical Principles for the Conduct of Research in the North” prepared by the Working Group on Canada/MAB Sub-Program 4 (Science for the North), March 1977. The ACUNS Committee on Relations with Northern Peoples studied the MAB document as well as ethical guidelines prepared by other groups, and presented its recom mendations to the Association’s Annual General Meet ing in May 1981. The Committee’s document was accepted by the ACUNS Council, subject to some amendment, responsibility for which was delegated to the Board of Directors. At a meeting on September 22, 1981, the ACUNS Board of Directors gave approval to the present document.

These principles are based on “Ethical Principles for the Conduct of Research in the North” prepared by the Working Group on Canada/MAB Sub-Program 4 (Science for the North), March 1977. The ACUNS Committee on Relations with Northern Peoples studied the MAB document as well as ethical guidelines prepared by other groups, and presented its recommendations to the Association’s Annual General Meeting in May 1981. The Committee’s document was accepted by the ACUNS Council, subject to some amendment, responsibility for which was delegated to the Board of Directors. At a meeting on September 22, 1981, the ACUNS Board of Directors gave approval to the 1982 document. 

In November 1995, the newly elected Board of ACUNS undertook to review the principles and to make recommendations for its change to the ACUNS Council. In November 1996, a two-person Board committee presented a discussion document to the Council at the Annual General Meeting. Comments on the document and, later, on the draft principles by researchers, academics, government officials, Aboriginal organizations, and research bodies as well as research into ethical guidelines produced by a host of other groups, associations, regulatory and research agencies, led to a draft of the revised document being presented to and accepted at the 1997 ACUNS Annual General Meeting.

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