Research codes and contracts have been developed to protect Indigenous and marginalized peoples from exploitation and to promote inclusion, so that research will become more beneficial to them. We highlight three important but often overlooked challenges for such instruments, drawing on examples from the San of southern Africa.
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S.K. and J.G. have led the writing of this Comment, and all other authors have contributed and shared ideas.
Positionality statement. Our group of authors consists of nine ethnographers and nine San, from the Hai//om, ǃXung and Ju/’hoansi in Namibia, the //Gana Khwe in Botswana and the ≠Khomani in South Africa. Most of these ethnographers have done extensive research among and in collaboration with different San groups, some reaching back to the 1970s. The collaborations focus on research (including translation, interpretation and organizational matters), but some also include activism, development or advocacy.
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Koot, S., Grant, J., //Khumûb, M. et al. Research codes and contracts do not guarantee equitable research with Indigenous communities. Nat Ecol Evol 7, 1543–1546 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02101-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02101-0
