Indigenous communities remain concerned about research into their lives, their control over and participation in the research process and the public dissemination of knowledge. The relationship between researcher and participant and the product of this relationship has been traditionally cast as a dualism with one side being the less powerful, although the power relationships that set up the dualism in the first place are typically ignored. Embedded in any research relationship are the politics of position that create a hierarchical identity between researcher and participant. The terms "researcher" and "participant" contain overtones that suggest this relationship is concerned with and directed to the "looking over" or "looking after" the other. Furthermore, research and the apparent authoritative role and gaze of the researcher is embedded with dilemmas and difficulties that are exacerbated and brought into sharp relief when cultural differences come into play. This article suggests possibilities and strategies for collaborative cross-cultural research partnerships and highlights the principles and ethical values that underpinned and guided the research project from inception.