By Katie Grant, Office of Research & Scholarship Communications

A new annotated bibliography published by Oxford Bibliographies in Education is reshaping how scholars and practitioners approach evaluation in Indigenous contexts — centering Indigenous knowledge systems, ethical practices, and global perspectives. Among its authors is Nicole Bowman (Lunaape/Mohican), a researcher with the Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative (WEC) at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) within the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Education.

The publication, co-authored with Claire Bjork, represents a significant contribution to the growing field of Indigenous evaluation. Rather than following a conventional alphabetical format, the bibliography is organized using the Seven Directions Indigenous Framework. This approach is grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems that connect evaluation practice to cultural teachings, relationships, and responsibilities.

“This work reflects a shift in evaluation from something done to communities toward something done with and by Indigenous peoples,” explained Bowman in framing the resource, which emphasizes relationality, respect, and responsibility in research and evaluation practices.

The bibliography includes more than 100 carefully curated sources spanning 1999 to 2024, drawn from an initial pool of nearly 700 resources identified. These sources bring together Indigenous evaluators and scholars, creating what Bowman and Bjork describe as a roadmap for conducting evaluation work that is culturally grounded, ethically sound, and community centered.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with Dr. Bowman for years on a variety of projects, and creating this bibliography together deepened my understanding of how work happening in communities can inform and enrich evaluation and scholarship … and how, in turn, scholarship can strengthen practice,” said Bjork. “Because this work highlights cultural frameworks and lived experiences, it was essential to center the voices and knowledge of Indigenous scholars throughout the project.

At its core, the work highlights Indigenous evaluation as a distinct and powerful field; one that integrates traditional knowledge, sovereignty, and culturally responsive methodologies. The Seven Directions Structure — East, South, West, North, Earth, Sky, and Inward — guides readers through foundational concepts, including cultural values and ethics, governance and policy, implementation practices, and professional development. Each direction reflects a holistic way of understanding evaluation, rooted in Indigenous teachings about balance, relationships, and accountability to both human and nonhuman relatives.

For Bowman, a citizen of the Lunaape/Mohican (Munsee) Nation, this work is both academic and deeply personal. The bibliography underscores the importance of “First Voice” or the principle that Indigenous knowledge must be shared by Indigenous people themselves, in accordance with cultural protocols and responsibilities. It also cautions against the misappropriation of Indigenous knowledge in academic and professional contexts, emphasizing that such knowledge belongs to communities, Elders, and sovereign Tribal Nations. These principles were not only reflected in the content and format of the bibliography itself, but in the actual agreement between the authors and publisher, resulting in the first decolonized author agreement with Oxford University Press.

As Bowman explains, “This agreement represents an operational way in policy and contract to uphold Indigenous rights through academic publication agreements. It is an example of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and governance that has also built Oxford’s awareness, capacity, and responsive and responsible policymaking. This agreement should be utilized by others for current and future work to support publication of Indigenous scholarship.”

The publication also reflects the Wisconsin Idea by offering a freely accessible, practical resource for evaluators, educators, policymakers, and organizations. By synthesizing decades of scholarship and organizing it within an Indigenous framework, the bibliography provides tools for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous practitioners seeking to engage in evaluation work with integrity and respect.

As interest in culturally responsive and equitable evaluation continues to grow, this bibliography is poised to become a foundational resource in the field. It not only documents existing scholarship but also sets a new standard for how knowledge can be organized, shared, and applied in ways that respect Indigenous worldviews.

For Bowman, the impact of the work extends well beyond academia. By centering Indigenous voices and frameworks, the bibliography helps ensure that evaluation practices contribute to the strength, resilience, and self-determination of Indigenous communities today and for generations to come.