Code of Ethics

Tribal Research and Programming Code of Ethics

Whether working on research grants or providing community outreach and engagement activities, there are some ethical standards that should be considered to guide partnerships with Tribal communities.  The following code of ethics will help to create stronger partnerships with Tribal Nations that will lead to successful collaborative engagement for continued mutually beneficial projects.

• Inclusiveness:
  Partnerships must be developed with the Tribal leadership at the onset of the creation of the research or project. This would involve full collaboration and involvement of authorized Tribal representatives at the draft stages of development. Roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined. Tribal governmental consent must be respected, as Tribes have the right and authority to decline participation in research and programming that does not meet their identified community needs or interests.
• Respect:
  As collaborative partners, Tribal epistemologies, community, and cultural resources must be acknowledged, trusted and respected for the accurate inclusion of tribal perspectives. The University and members of the University community must take steps to ensure that University projects do not cause harm, as defined by the Tribal community, and be conducted under methodologies approved by the tribe.
• Relational:
  Research and outreach projects with Tribal communities are only proper to the extent that Tribal representative partners identify the projects as beneficial and necessary for the tribal community.
• Reciprocity:
  True collaborative research and programming with Tribal communities will clearly define what information will be shared at the onset of the project. It will establish what the information will be used for and how the information will be disseminated and cared for. Acknowledgement of tribal involvement and sharing is a true act of respect and reciprocity. Furthermore, tribal laws and research procedures should be consulted early on to determine the scope, method, and dissemination of any research projects.