Nicole Bowman
Claire Bjork
Publishing for the Next Seven Generations: Utilizing an Indigenous Framework and Process to Secure a Decolonized Author Agreement and Publication with Oxford University Press is based on nearly a four year effort (2022 – 2026) to negotiate, co-create, and publish through Oxford University Press (Bowman and Bjork, 2026). Utilizing social justice and legal strategies the presenter and her team negotiated and created a decolonized author agreement and seven directions annotated bibliography publication that Indigenous authors can use when working with Oxford University Press (OUP). This built strong and valued relationships, capacities, and reciprocal responsibilities between the Indigenous led research/publication team and OUP. Come learn about every step of the process, the lessons learned, and internal/external strategies utilized to help create the decolonized agreement and publication that is a free resource, can be used for collective benefit, and includes a self-determined process, Indigenous language, and a Seven Directions Medicine Wheel publication framework. This first-of-its kind agreement and publication provides resources from Indigenous authors globally and offers a seven generations philosophy and practice as a living database and free publication. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, practitioners, funders, and policy makers will benefit from learning about the behind the scenes process. A future 2026 publication protocol to help others through their own step-by-step decolonization agreement and publication process is forthcoming from the presenters. This presentation also expands the current work of IndDS and CARE to add in more Indigenous evaluator voices to the movement.