Research Partnerships between Academic Institutions and American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Organizations: Effective Strategies and Lessons Learned in a Multisite CTN Study

Abstract

Background: Community Based and Tribally Based Participatory Research (CBPR/TPR) are approaches that can be successful for developing ethical and effective research partnerships between academic institutions and Tribes and Native organizations. Objectives: The NIDA Clinical Trials Network funded a multi-site, exploratory study using CBPR/TPR to begin to better understand substance abuse issues of concern to some Tribes and Native organizations as well as strengths and resources that exist in these communities to address these concerns. Attention was paid to the development and maintenance of research partnerships in each of the sites. Methods: Each of the five partnerships is briefly described and common as well as unique challenges and successes are identified. Results: A summary of the common themes for developing these collaborative research efforts is provided. Conclusion: True, collaborative research partnerships require a great deal of time and effort in order to develop mutual trust, understanding, knowledge, and collaboration that will guide research that is rigorous as well as ethical, effective, and culturally appropriate. Scientific Significance: As AIAN communities become increasingly sophisticated partners in, and consumers of, research, CBPR and TPR are emerging as effective, ethical, culturally appropriate, and acceptable approaches. This can serve to improve the science we engage in with AIAN communities, add to the scarce literature regarding AIAN communities, and better serve AIAN communities in addressing health disparities and improving health.

• American Indian and Alaska Native
• CBPR/TPR
• substance abuse

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The authors acknowledge the generous and crucial contributions of the participating communities and organizations.

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS

California/Arizona

Carmen Masson

Ethan Nebelkopf

Michael Shopshire

James Sorensen

Ohio Valley

Frankie Kropp

Maurine (Orwa) Lilleskov

Duane Mackey (Santee Sioux Nation)

Eugene Somoza

Oregon/Hawaii

Joe Bray (Choctaw)

William Lambert

Dennis McCarty

Traci Rieckmann

Paul Spicer

Birdie Wermy (Cheyenne-Arapaho)

Pacific Northwest

Dennis Donovan

Sandra Radin

Lisa Rey Thomas (Tlingit)

Southwest

Michael P. Bogenschutz

Meredith Davis

Ray Daw (Dine’ – Navajo)

Kevin Foley (Rappahannock)

Alyssa A. Forcehimes

Kamilla Venner (Athabascan)

Eric Willie (Navajo – Tódích’íi’níí & Tábaahí)

Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Carmen Rosa

Harold Perl

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.