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Developing, Collating and Sharing Environmental Research Protocols for Tribal Nations
Citation:
Bruce, L., S. Gaughen, N. Patterson, Jr., B. Rashleigh, AND J. Zambrana. Developing, Collating and Sharing Environmental Research Protocols for Tribal Nations. Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America 42nd Annual Meeting, Portland; N/A (virtual), Oregon, November 14 - 18, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
This is to present work of the ORD-sponsored EPA National Tribal Science Council and EPA Region 9 (Southwest) Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) work on promoting Tribal sovereingnty with respect to research done on Tribal lands and with Indigenous peoples. The work will be shared at the upcoming SETAC meeting at a syumposium sponsored by the SETAC "Indigenous Knowledge and Values Working Group" entiteld "A Shared Sense of Place: Indigenous Perspectives on Motivating Communities to Respect the Environment."
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works directly with Tribal Governments in protecting human health and the environment in Indian Country. EPA also works with Tribal Partnership Groups such as the EPA National Tribal Science Council (TSC) and the EPA Region 9 (Southwest) Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) to assist EPA in meeting its trust responsibility to the Tribes, enhance EPA’s responsiveness to Tribal needs, and provide a forum for interaction and communication between Tribal and Agency representatives of mutual benefit and responsibility to work collaboratively on environmental scientific issues. One activity started by the TSC and then taken up by the R9 RTOC is collecting examples of indigenous research frameworks, protocols and methodologies. Past infringements of Tribal sovereignty have made protocols for research on Tribal lands critical. Tribal research frameworks and policies for engagement with non-tribal scientists are expressed in many ways, including: Tribal Resolutions, Research Agreements, Data Management Plans, Quality Assurance Project Plans, Cultural Committee Review Processes, Institutional Review Board (IRB) Agreements, Tribal College and University IRBs, and Non-Disclosure Agreements. The purpose of this collection effort has been multifold: to better understand data and research needs from a Tribal community perspective; to identify examples of data partnerships between research institutions and Tribes; to better ensure that researchers center Indigenous knowledge in addition to decentering Western colonial frameworks; and to collate information to serve as a repository. This presentation will highlight the work of the TSC and R9 RTOC is doing to collect and share examples of Tribal protocols for researchers, and to develop a template that Tribal Nations can adapt to develop their own protocols. Information to be collected and shared more broadly includes history or information on research with Indigenous communities, legal cases or briefs related to research process or outcomes, and specific Tribal examples of research frameworks or resources. Key items the template will highlight include asserting Tribal sovereignty, protecting Tribal knowledge, centering Tribal research priorities, controlling access to Tribal data, benefiting Tribal communities, and supporting ethical research in Tribal communities.
