ArtVoice: An Indigenous-Informed Visual Arts-Based Method for Exploring Knowledges on Country in Zenadth Kes

Climate change poses an urgent threat to Indigenous peoples globally, including the Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) communities of Australia, whose deep ancestral, cultural, and ecological connections to Sea Country are foundational to identity and wellbeing. Despite growing attention to climate impacts, Indigenous perspectives and Traditional Knowledge remain underexplored, and few culturally grounded, place-based methods exist to engage respectfully with these sensitive issues. This article introduces ArtVoice , an arts-based, community-driven qualitative method developed and led by an Indigenous researcher from Zenadth Kes . Rooted in Indigenous epistemologies and relational ways of knowing, ArtVoice invites community members to express their experiences, hopes, and concerns about climate change through creative artworks. The research described in this protocol involves field visits guided by Elders, who oversee cultural protocols and provide direction throughout the study, ensuring relational accountability and respect for local sovereignty. This ‘method-in-place’ approach is attuned to the colonial research context, privileging Indigenous self-determination and cultural authority throughout study design, data generation, analysis, and dissemination. Ethical principles grounded in Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property rights underpin the project, ensuring community leadership in decisions about sharing stories and artworks. ArtVoice offers a decolonising, culturally responsive approach to exploring climate change impacts with Indigenous communities, advancing qualitative research methods that honour Indigenous knowledge systems and support Indigenous-led climate action.