Natalia Herrera-Medina & Omar Espinoza-Navarro

During the last decade, the indigenous population (IP), human communities with racial, linguistic, cultural, religious, food, and festive affinities, has increased significantly as a result of the intensification of social processes and interconnectedness. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 2020 provides guidance on respect for the collective rights of indigenous peoples by generating institutional, political, and economic conditions that reflect existing diversity. Chilean legislation recognizes that the indigenous population represents the descendants of human groups that have existed in the national territory since pre- Columbian times, who preserve their own ethnic and cultural expressions. Currently, these communities face changes in identity, socioeconomic status, and cultural adaptation, presenting multidimensional poverty, exclusion, and vulnerability. Therefore, scientific research on indigenous peoples is necessary to understand their specific needs and thus establish appropriate public policies. The objective of this article is to highlight, through a literature review, certain characteristics of the indigenous population that determine specific vulnerabilities and to describe ethical safeguards to consider. Six general premises are proposed for research with indigenous peoples, focused on the recognition of their rights, considering culture as a factor that affects people's behavior in the health-disease process and equity as a fundamental principle of interculturality in Chile.

KEY WORDS: Interculturality; Ethnic Minorities; Indigenous Population; Health.

HERRERA-MEDINA, N. & ESPINOZA-NAVARRO, O. Ethical aspects to consider in research with indigenous populations. Int. J. Morphol., 43(3):930-932, 2025.