Printed on: 12/05/2024. Please go to policy.umn.edu for the most current version of the document.
University of Minnesota  Administrative Policy

Indigenous Research

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Policy Statement

This policy is intended to inform and assist University of Minnesota researchers and practitioners, including faculty, staff, research scholars, clinicians, postdoctoral researchers, graduate and undergraduate students who are pursuing work with Tribal partners, Tribal communities, Tribal natural resources, and other Tribally-controlled or Tribal-serving institutions, Indigenous Peoples, places, and objects of cultural significance to Indigenous Peoples, wherever those Indigenous peoples, places, and objects may be.

Researchers engaging in such work must:

  • Consider Indigenous rights, Tribal self-determination, and Tribal sovereignty in all aspects of Indigenous research. This includes, and is not limited to:
    • Follow all appropriate protocols and laws at Tribal, State, and Federal levels, seek guidance from the Tribal Nations or the University of Minnesota Office of Native American Affairs and engaged learning when unsure;
    • Complete all required training prior to engaging in research activities as detailed in the policy below;
    • Ensure all aspects of research follow the best practices protocol set forth in the University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous Research, which provide additional information. This is a living document that is subject to change. Please review it regularly to ensure best practices for research;
    • Build relationships with Indigenous peoples before engaging in any aspect of research activities;
    • Establish data sovereignty parameters utilizing policies and protocols of the Tribal partner;
    • When the Tribal partner does not have formal policies or protocols, researchers will work to establish sustainable data management procedures for and beyond their research project;
    • Obtain approval from the Office of Native American Affairs before beginning any research by filling out the form Notification of Indigenous Research;
    • Acquire Tribal consent;
    • Submit an IRB study to University following the Board of Regents Policy: Research Involving Human Participants; and
    • Comply with all Tribal, Federal, State, and local laws.

Training Requirement

All researchers, regardless of their role in the project, who want to conduct Indigenous research, sponsored or unsponsored, are required to complete the Tribal-University Relations training modules available through Canvas. It is the responsibility of the Primary Investigator to ensure compliance with this requirement. Research funding from internal and external sources will not be released for faculty and staff who fail to complete research education requirements. Other policies address requirements related to research and may impose additional consequences for non-compliance. The Research and Innovation Office and the Office of Native American Affairs will monitor compliance with the training requirement.

Reason for Policy

This policy was created to reframe and inform research practices within the University of Minnesota in order to reflect our values of respecting Tribal sovereignty. The founding of the University as a land grant institution and its history in research and education has in many ways been built to the detriment of Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations. Research with Indigenous (see definitions located below) communities requires a deep understanding of this history and the political status of Tribal Nations. By setting research requirements across the University system, this policy brings University research into compliance with University and legal requirements.

Procedures

There are no procedures associated with this policy.

Forms/Instructions

Appendices

There are no appendices associated with this policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I acquire Tribal consent?

    Acquiring Tribal consent can only happen after establishing a reciprocal relationship with a Tribal Nation or Indigenous partner. Please review the University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous research for further information on building relationships.

  2. How do I establish data sovereignty parameters?

    The University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous Research offers multiple resources for learning about data sovereignty and implementation examples. The most important thing to remember is that Tribes have a sovereign right to collect, store, manage, and share their data. This is different from what typically happens in academic research. Any sharing and/or publication of data and findings should be agreed upon with your Indigenous research partners. Researchers concerned about how open data policies are impacted should request a waiver from the Research and Innovation Office and Office of General Counsel as appropriate.

Contacts

Subject Contact Email
Primary Contact Karen Diver, Senior Advisor to the President on Native American Affairs [email protected]
Alternative Contact Hannah Johnson, Project Manager, Native American Affairs [email protected]
Responsible Individuals
Responsible Officer Policy Owner Primary Contact
  • University President
  • Vice President for Research and Innovation
  • Senior Advisor to the President, Office of Native American Affairs
  • Karen Diver
    Senior Advisor to the President, Office of Native American Affairs

Definitions

Tribal Nation
A sovereign government with its own laws, policies, and protocol.
Tribal sovereignty
Refers to the innate ability of Tribes to govern themselves, which includes the ability to regulate and direct research involving their people, lands, and culturally significant objects, both living and inanimate.
Indigenous Organization
An entity serving primarily Native American peoples, that can be located in rural or urban areas and may or may not be part of a Tribal government. May also include nonprofits and other non-governmental organizations.
Indigenous Peoples
This document uses the terms Indigenous Peoples, Native Americans, and American Indians.

Globally, according to United Nations estimates, there are approximately 370-400 million Indigenous peoples in over 90 countries who represent approximately 5% of the world’s total population. There is great national, regional, and global diversity when it comes to identifying Indigenous peoples.

For example, in the U.S. alone, there are 574 currently federally recognized Tribes, including 229 Alaskan Villages. This overall national figure does not include state-recognized Tribes and Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians), who have differing levels of self-governing authority and who still deserve recognition for their lands, culture and authority.

In Canada, Indigenous peoples are First Nations, Inuit or Métis.

In regions of Latin America, including across the six Andean nations of South America, Indigenous peoples are referred to in national language and also self-identify as pueblos originarios, the original communities.

Regardless of regional identifications, Indigenous peoples may generally prefer to be addressed by their own Indigenous language named affiliations. For example, Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders may refer to themselves as such more broadly but may identify according to a specific tribal affiliation–e.g. Garrwa, Nurungga, etc.

Prior to proposing or developing work that impacts Indigenous communities and individuals, researchers need to have a clear understanding of Tribes/Indigenous Peoples, how they are identified by their governments, and how they self-identify. Appropriate language referring to these identifiers should be used in any memoranda of understandings with Tribal Nations and in Institutional Review Board materials.

Tribes within and outside of Minnesota are unique in linguistic, cultural, political organization, etc.

There can be no assumption made that knowledge and/or experience gained and concern or priority identified by one Tribe will transfer to another. Whether faculty, research staff, post-doctoral fellow, graduate student, other student researcher, intern etc., each community's need should be explored under appropriate Tribal nation oversight and with community members identified by the Tribal nation as most relevant to the project oversight. In order to aid in this process, trainings specific to one’s field is strongly recommended.

Data sovereignty
The inherent right of Indigenous Tribes to collect, store, manage, apply and disseminate their own data, and is derived from tribes' inherent right to govern their peoples, lands, and resources.
Indigenous research
Refers to any and all stages of research and in any field/discipline, college, department, or program with Tribal nations, Indigenous communities, Indigenous peoples, and Indigenous-serving organizations and institutions, and may refer to the following kinds of activities:
  • Research that is initiated, overseen, led, funded or staffed by Tribal nations and/or Indigenous peoples in partnership (however defined) with the University of Minnesota that involves Indigenous lands, territories, policies, community members, or histories.
  • Research that is initiated, overseen, led, funded or staffed by any University of Minnesota-affiliated researchers and that involves Indigenous lands, territories, policies, community members, histories.
  • Inquiry (i.e. research questions) and processes of inquiry (i.e. research design) engaged by University-affiliated researchers that can reasonably be expected to impact Tribal nations, Indigenous communities, Indigenous peoples, Indigenous lands, territories, policies, or histories.
For more information on what constitutes Indigenous research, including research design and Indigenous peoples in the U.S. and elsewhere, see further resources from the Office of Native American Affairs.
Ceded territory
Ceded territories refer to areas outside the boundaries of reservations where Tribes reserved rights to hunt, fish and gather in the treaties made with the United States. While Tribal Nations have direct governmental authority within their reservation, they also have equities in ceded territories.

Responsibilities

Research and Innovation Office
  • Ensure establishment and maintenance of an evaluation mechanism to address the education needs for responsible conduct of research, training, and compliance for faculty and investigators, regardless of funding status, in coordination with Office of Native American Affairs;
  • Consult with faculty, administrative, and/or research staff for guidance on the content and delivery of training materials and other requirements;
  • Publicize the University-Tribal Relations training, Indigenous Research Policy, and University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous Research to all faculty, staff, and students;
  • Determine through their review processes when the policy has been met for funding release; and
  • Monitor compliance with the training requirement.
Office of Native American Affairs (NAA)
  • Oversee, approve, and deny requests to conduct Indigenous research at the University;
  • Work closely with the Research and Innovation Office to ensure Indigenous research is in compliance with University policy, Tribal, Federal, State and other jurisdictional laws;
  • Work closely with the Research and Innovation Office as they establish and maintain an evaluation mechanism to address the education needs for responsible conduct of research, training, and compliance for faculty and investigators, regardless of funding status;
  • Provide advice and guidance for University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous Research, as needed;
  • Ensure establishment and maintenance of training modules, forms, and policies related to Indigenous Research;
  • Manage day to day aspects of Indigenous research at the University, working closely with the Research and Innovation Office, IRBs, and Tribes to ensure all aspects of Indigenous research respect Tribal sovereignty, data sovereignty, and Indigenous self determination;
  • Track and maintain information on Indigenous research activities;
  • Monitor compliance with the training requirement; and
  • Work with the Research and Innovation Office to assess the ongoing effectiveness of the University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous Research and University-Tribal Relations training.
Associate Dean for Research or equivalent for College or Unit
  • Ensure faculty, staff, and students complete research requirements appropriate for their role on the research study and/or required by the sponsor or the University; and
  • Publicize the University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous Research, Indigenous Research Policies, and University-Tribal Relations training to faculty, staff, and students in their department.
Department Heads
  • Ensure faculty, staff, and students complete Indigenous research requirements appropriate for their role on a project and/or required by the sponsor or the University;
  • Publicize the University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous Research, Indigenous Research Policies, and University-Tribal Relations training to faculty, staff, and students in their department; and
  • Monitor completion of requirements by research staff and students, as needed.
Principal Investigator
  • Be aware of appropriate training and/or required training requirements for staff and students working on their projects;
  • Be in contact with the Office of Native American Affairs as necessary throughout the project;
  • Develop respectful relationship with appropriate Tribal partner;
  • Obtain necessary approvals; and
  • Ensure that all aspects of research follow the best practices protocol set forth in the University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous Research.
Researchers
  • Complete all appropriate training and/or required training requirements for staff and students working on their projects; and
  • Ensure that all aspects of research follow the best practices protocol set forth in the University of Minnesota Guidelines for Indigenous Research.

Related Information

History

Effective:
July 2024 - To provide guidance when working on research related to Tribal Nations/Indigenous Peoples.