Commentary: New Collaborations With Native Americans in the Conduct of Community Research

A Toolkit for Ethical and Culturally Sensitive Research: An Application with Indigenous Communities

“…In response, indigenous nations have taken action to make research more culturally sensitive by developing their own institutional review boards (IRB) and by exercising greater self-determination and control over research practices (Norton and Manson 1996;Sobeck Chapleski, and Fisher 2003;Mail, Conner, and Coner 2006). Bishop (2005) acknowledged the inherent power struggles between researchers and participants and proposed a Kaupapa Māori approach aimed at emancipation from neocolonial domination in research.…”

“…With a shift toward community and tribally based research methods, guidelines to reduce the likelihood of harm and foster usefulness research have included: (a) tribal oversight and community representation in the research, (c) culturally sensitive methods, (d) compensation for subjects, (e) training for researchers in indigenous communities, (f) contracts about data ownership, and (g) and collaborative dissemination of results (Deloria 1991;Norton and Manson 1996;Weijer Goldsand, and Emanuel 1999;Fisher and Ball 2003;Mail, Conner, and Coner 2006). Moreover, researchers suggested reciprocity and cultural humility, or a commitment to life-long learning that dismantles power differentials in crosscultural encounters (Tervalon and Murray-Garcia 1998;Salois and Holkup 2006).…”

Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Infections in the North American Arctic

“…First, CBPR engages aboriginal or indigenous people in full and equal partnership with those communities in efforts to observe and respect tribal sovereignty and the right to self-determination (28). Second, the growing interest in addressing the interrelatedness of historic trauma and health disparities in indigenous populations and the inherent complexities of unraveling the interconnected components and concepts related to historic trauma and health can best be understood by discussions and conversations with indigenous communities (29,30).…”

Building Bridges in American Indian Bereavement Research

“…Next, researchers should send a letter first to the tribal chairperson, followed by a presentation to tribal officials explaining the proposed research (Mail et al, 2006). Subsequently, researchers should seek to establish and train, if not already in place, a representative community advisory committee within the tribe (Quigley, 2006).…”