Introduction

Abstract

During a recent visit to the University of Arizona I was invited to the Tohono O'odam Tribal College, a two-hour drive south of Tucson, Arizona. On the way we were passed by a convoy of police and border patrol vehicles as they went south towards the US-Mexico border. At the college I met staff, students, a group of young dancers, their parents and other members of the community. The children danced and along with other guests I joined them to dance for rain, a poignant and awkward gesture on my part in a place that has not had rain for a while. We later shared food and talked about research, about the contribution of indigenous world-views to scientific research and about the preparation of Native American researchers. I talked about a tribal university situated in New Zealand and its aspirations and struggle to become recognized as a legitimate institution of higher learning. On the way back to Tucson a bit of moisture appeared on our car windows; perhaps it was rain. There was no sign of the convoy that had accompanied us earlier in the day; perhaps they were still catching people at the border.