Table 1.

Toolkit for Ethically and Culturally Sensitive Research with Indigenous Communities

Strategy for researcher(s)	Description
Become educated	Read about the specific and broad Indigenous history. Learn from Indigenous communities, colleagues, and insiders
Work with a cultural insider	This insider will lead the way to working within culturally appropriate protocols and nuances of the Indigenous community
Get invited	Collaborate with key insiders and become invited because of demonstrated skills and competence
Exhibit cultural humility	Approach work with Indigenous communities with a positive intent, authenticity, and respect for the people
Be transparent	Be completely open and honest about research intentions and resources available to do this work
Spend time in the community	Take the time to get to know Indigenous community members before beginning the study
Collaborate	Become embedded in the community and develop a network of people who conduct culturally sound research
Listen	Attend to Indigenous community members, whom are experts on their own community
Build a positive reputation	Build a reputation for doing worthwhile research
Commit long term	Work with Indigenous communities long term to foster lasting change and collaboration
Use a memorandum of understanding	Outline important guidelines such as who owns the data, how research findings are published, how researchers will follow-up with the community, etc
Use a cultural reader	A cultural reader reviews reports and prevents inadvertent harmful publishing
Go the distance	Travel to Indigenous communities, which might be a long distance away
Demonstrate patience	Understand that relationship, trust-building, and the research process take time
Enable self-determination	Incorporate the tribe’s input and participation throughout the research design and implementation
Use a tribal perspective	Avoid imposing a Western perspective
Use appropriate methodology	Use culturally congruent community-based, qualitative, or quantitative methods
Reinforce culture strengths	Build on the many strengths within Indigenous communities by using a community-based participatory method, and incorporating traditions in research such as storytelling, family, attention to land and the spirit, and other strengths already present
Honor confidentiality	Consider community, family, and individual confidentiality and how to ensure it, especially in tight-knit communities
Advocate	Communicate the needs and rights of Indigenous peoples to decision-making bodies
Reciprocate and give back	Develop programs, report results, provide compensation, and enable the Indigenous community to determine follow-up
Allow for fluidity and flexibility	Balance rigor with culturally congruent research practices. Adapt the research process to honor the community’s rhythm and traditions. Publishing institutions can support this flexibility as good research practice
Develop an infrastructure	Build a network with Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and community members to centralize and facilitate streamlined research that is useful for both Indigenous communities and academia
Invest resources	Funding sources can foster culturally congruent research by allowing for traditional customs, such as feeding participants or offering gifts to elders, through grants that can allocate funds to Indigenous communities, colleges, and infrastructure

Table reprinted with permission from [17]