What started as a research on Australian Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the circular economy (CE), turned into a much more complex and personal journey of what it means to do respectful and collaborative research with Indigenous communities. In this thesis, I attempted to build an understanding of the very rich and complex tapestry of Australian Indigenous knowledges, to explore how they may inspire alternative designs for a CE. The main assumptions, principles, and limitations of the conventional model of the CE are explored, and an Indigenous-inspired circular economy model is proposed. Alongside this research aim, I also documented my own learning process as I grappled with the challenges of conducting Indigenist research, and confronted the essential question of how we can genuinely value and engage with Indigenous communities in the realm of academic research.