Pacific Research: Rethinking the Talanoa 'Methodology'

Thinking methodologically involves describing and analysing the methods used, evaluating their value, detailing the dilemmas their usage causes and exploring the relationship between the methods that we use and how we use them, and the production and presentation of our data - our 'findings'. Thinking method-logically is theorizing about how we find things out; it is about the relationship between the process and the product of research (Letherby, 2003: 5).IntroductionThe burgeoning interest in 'Talanoa Methodology'(Suaalii-Sauni & Fulu-Aiolupotea, 2014: 332; Vaioleti, 2006) or simply Talanoa is ubiquitous and seems trendy among postgraduate students, academics and researchers who are of Pacific and non-Pacific backgrounds alike, but mainly Pacific. Talanoa evolved alongside a plethora of other similar research approaches such as Kakala, Fa'afaletui, Fonofale, Tivaevae, 'Ula, Fonua, Kaupapa Maori, and Vanua to name a few, within the domain of the relatively new academic discipline of 'Pacific Studies' (McFall-McCaffery, 2010: 1). Much of the so called rediscovered and constructed approaches to knowledge production within this field are underpinned by very important indigenous epistemological systems which, to a great extent, have been the actual lived and progressive experiences of 'Pacific peoples' since time immemorial. As an outcome of the global decolonising movements' agenda for change and reclaiming of cultural identity, which is evident in areas such as information science research (Genovese, 2016), historical analyses (Davidson, 2008), state formation, and so on, Pacific Studies' resurgence is symptomatic of some success, and is to be commended.However, as a reaction towards the colonising, dismantling and disempowering impact of Euro-centrically hegemonic and foreign philosophical approaches to knowledge construction, the manner and swiftness in the production of some of the above research frameworks within Pacific Studies have also caused some concerns. These concerns are perhaps connected more to the nature of their claims to the research methodologies and paradigms status rather than to their potentiality and authenticity as indigenous epistemological and ontological systems or processes. That is, while this influx of Pacific theorising could be welcomed as a victory for the decolonising agenda, signs are showing that there is already an implicit methodological clutter or an academic conundrum within this increasing web-like array of methods, methodologies, approaches, models and paradigms. Notwithstanding the advantages of the availability of multiple perspectives though, a similar concern relates to evolving arguments within and among Pacific scholarly circles that inadvertently orient towards making 'superiority-status' claims. One such claim posits that "only three [models], "Kaupapa Maori, the Kakala Framework, and Unaisi's Vanua Research Framework have been specifically focussed and developed as comprehensive Indigenous research methods specific to a cultural context within the Pacific region" (Farrelly & Nabobo-Baba, 2012: 2). While the exclusion of Talanoa from the above list could not be fully justified on the basis of Farrelly and Nabobo-Baba's contention that 'valid talanoa' could only be achieved "with prolonged periods of participant-observation" (p. 5), it is nonetheless concerning that some confusion already exists in terms of the application of Talanoa in theses and dissertation research by Pacific and non-Pacific postgraduate students. Thus questions related to the 'methodology or method' debate, as well as other substantive enquiries need more clarification for the sake of students and their academic supervisors alike, especially if they are non-Pacific ethnically, and non-Pacific residentially.Given the above background, I believe Talanoa 'methodology' has reached an impasse and the time is rife that more conversations (Suaalii-Sauni & Fulu-Aiolupotea, 2014) and contributions towards a safe but honest critical analysis of this 'methodology', as well as other Pacific research approaches, are encouraged at all levels of academic and research discussions. …