“Disclaimer: We respond to emergent info” knowledge mobilization, Indigenous oral traditions, and decolonizing qualitative research

Responding to a challenge from an Indigenous research participant, our decolonizing, antioppressive research project sought to develop a form of knowledge mobilization (KM) that reflected Indigenous oral tradition. This note draws on field notes and yarnings (Aboriginal Australian storytelling) to reflect on our messy, frequently delayed and always unfinished foray into producing videos with our research participants. This note explores our attempt at Indigenous oral tradition-linked KM, why we did it, and what we learned. Consistent with Indigenous epistemology and ontology, we aimed for a process that was respectful, reciprocal, transparent, and relational. The process was time- and labor-intensive with many moments and did not fit neatly into the political economy of universities where KM is expected to be linear and efficient. Our note concludes with great respect for our research participants and their willingness to challenge, expand and decolonize our KM practices.