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Partnership Commitments to Tribal Nations and Indigenous Communities

Preface: The intention behind these commitments is to demonstrate options of working together between the Southeast CASC and Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities, and is not to prescribe the only ways to work together. We acknowledge that partnership agreements are not “one size fits all” and will vary between groups and Nations. We hope that these commitments demonstrate our understanding of complexity known and unknown to us, and our commitment to work beside Tribal Nations within this complexity and our mutually shifting landscapes.

Commitment to Indigenous Data Sovereignty

We will verify that Tribal Nations mentioned in any proposal or project have Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) that addresses, for example, data sovereignty. We will work together to define what qualifies specifically as “data” for the project that also distinguishes “knowledge” from “data,” where data will be stored and accessed, and processes for consent (e.g. expiration, renewal, revocation). Tribal Nations may benefit from developing additional Data Sharing Agreements and/or MOUs with any external collaborators that specify if and what data is subject to FOIA (these links will automatically download Word documents: here is a template and an example).

Commitment to Actionable Science that Directly Benefits Tribes

We fund proposals that produce explicitly identified benefits to Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. It is incumbent on non-Tribal collaborators to demonstrate how project deliverables directly benefit Tribes and that there is clear consent of all involved Tribal staff and collaborators – not just consultation. Projects should detail structures of co-production and role expectations with reasonable compensation. 

All federally recognized Tribal Nations sharing the SE CASC’s geography are members of the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET), which is a member of the SE CASC Consortium. Tribal Nation staff and leaders are therefore eligible to lead SE CASC-funded research projects and may propose projects for any solicitation that SE CASC releases. Tribal Nations may choose to partner with any other organizations/institutions on projects they lead or to join as partners/collaborators on projects led by other Consortium members. USET-member Nation citizens are also eligible for student fellowship opportunities regardless of their university of attendance, though students conducting research relevant to the Southeast will be prioritized.

Commitment to Adaptability

This is a living document intentionally, recognizing that our workplace environments can and do change (e.g. Federal governments, Tribal governments, University administrations). We recognize that partnerships and agreements take time to build, and that the process can be complex. We also recognize that agreements will vary and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. While we can, and do, rely on our previous experiences, we do not assume that previous agreements will necessarily be relevant or applicable to new partnerships. We commit to addressing criticism of our systems and will change what we have authority to change and work with others to change what we do not have authority to change. 

Where You Can Connect With Us Face to Face

The SE CASC is committed to being involved with several national and regional meetings, such as:

Within budget availability, we will support travel for Tribal staff visits to our biennial regional science symposium and SE CASC staff will travel to invited site visits to Tribal Nations for informal meetings and conversations. Contact Cari Furiness, Assistant Consortium Director (csf@ncsu.edu) and Michelle Jewell, Communications & Engagement Manager (majewell@ncsu.edu) to discuss these options.

Where You Can Connect With Us Online

Any researcher, staff, organizer or other professional whose work aligns with the mission of the Center can become a SE CASC research affiliate. You can search the list of Research Affiliates here and apply to become one here. 

Our Tribal Liaisons at the United South and Eastern Tribes are Dr. Steph Courtney (scourtney@usetinc.org) and Breanna Knudsen (bknudsen@usetinc.org). You can learn more about Steph here and Breanna here.

And you can view examples of our partnerships and history of engagement online here.

Roles and Responsibilities

Acknowledgement

These commitments are a product of several years of effort led by Casey Thornbrugh, Marie Schaefer, and Steph Courtney. They also stitch together hundreds of pieces of insights from conversations with our Indigenous colleagues. 

More detailed and tailored guidance is available for Tribes working with non-Tribal entities here: NAFWS Tribal Research Guide: A Guide for Tribes for Research with Non-Tribal Entities.

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