Scientific Essay from the year 2015 in the subject Law - European and International Law, Intellectual Properties, University of Lapland, language: English, abstract: Newcomers to indigenous rights research approach the topic from different directions while legal research follows particular methods and pursues specific aims. This text is the expanded version of a lecture given to doctoral students on 26 March 2015 at the University of Lapland in the context of a seminar on indigenous issues and is meant to familiarize those who are interested in indigenous rights with concepts of and approaches to human rights research in international law in the particular context of indigenous rights. The style of the presentation has been maintained for this publication. It is aimed at researchers and students at the postgraduate and Ph.D. level but will also be useful for beginners in the field as well as practitioners. The text includes practical tips on researching international human rights law, where to find information etc., with a particular emphasis on materials which are available for free online. The text concludes with a look at questions concerning the ethics of research concerning indigenous peoples.