Responsible Research With Urban American Indians and Alaska Natives
Dublin Core
Title
Responsible Research With Urban American Indians and Alaska Natives
Subject
Indians of North America—Research—Moral and ethical aspects
Electronic Resource Item Type Metadata
Journal Name
American Journal of Public Health
Volume
Vol. 108
Issue
No. 12
Publication Date
2018
Publisher
American Public Health Association
Document Type
Journal article
Language
English
ISBN
15410048
Region
United States
Access
Restricted Access
View Source
Abstract
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities harbor understandable mistrust of research. Outside researchers have historically controlled processes, promulgating conclusions and recommended policies with virtually no input from the communities studied.
Reservation-based communities can apply sovereignty rights conferred by the federal government to change this research trajectory. Many tribes now require review and approval before allowing research activities to occur, in part through the development of regulatory codes and oversight measures. Tribal oversight ensures that research is directed toward questions of importance to the community and that results are returned in ways that optimize problem solving. Unfortunately, tribal governance protections do not always extend to AI/ANs residing in urban environments.
Although they represent the majority of AI/ANs, urban Indians face an ongoing struggle for visibility and access to health care. It is against this backdrop that urban Indians suffer disproportionate health problems. Improved efforts to ensure responsible research with urban Indian populations requires attention to community engagement, research oversight, and capacity building. We consider strategies to offset these limitations and develop a foundation for responsible research with urban Indians.
Reservation-based communities can apply sovereignty rights conferred by the federal government to change this research trajectory. Many tribes now require review and approval before allowing research activities to occur, in part through the development of regulatory codes and oversight measures. Tribal oversight ensures that research is directed toward questions of importance to the community and that results are returned in ways that optimize problem solving. Unfortunately, tribal governance protections do not always extend to AI/ANs residing in urban environments.
Although they represent the majority of AI/ANs, urban Indians face an ongoing struggle for visibility and access to health care. It is against this backdrop that urban Indians suffer disproportionate health problems. Improved efforts to ensure responsible research with urban Indian populations requires attention to community engagement, research oversight, and capacity building. We consider strategies to offset these limitations and develop a foundation for responsible research with urban Indians.
Cataloger
Haley Lesemann
Citation
“Responsible Research With Urban American Indians and Alaska Natives,” ICMGLT Digital Library, accessed November 3, 2026, https://library.icmglt.org/items/show/1025.