Research with Native American and Indigenous Populations

Community Members

Stan Rodriguez

Stan Rodriguez is a Iipay Kumeyaay bird singer from the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, and Executive Director of Kumeyaay Community College. Rodriguez facilitates dialogue regarding his doctoral research with Native American and Indigenous populations and has allowed scholars to gain insight into the need for researchers to develop genuine relationships with members of the population being studied.

Mike Connolly

Mike Connolly is a member of the Campo Kumeyaay Nation. Connolly shares his perspective on research with Native American and Indigenous youth. He expresses the importance of ethical practices when discussing the Kumeyaay Curriculum. It is important to deliver the content with intention and reach out to tribal members and leaders for their expertise regarding the curriculum.

Conferences

NIEA Conference

The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) supports opportunities for culture-based education for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. NIEA promotes educational sovereignty, continuation of traditional knowledge and language, and educational opportunities and results in American Indian/Native communities. There are often opportunities at NIEA to learn more about current research in Indian Country with various communities and modalities. Scholars found the presenters at NIEA to be especially knowledgeable of the research of Native American curriculum in schools, and it is evident that offering traditional knowledge in the school positively impacts Native American student’s learning.

Guest Speakers

Linda Tuhiwai Smith

Linda Tuhiwai Smith (Ngati Awa and Ngati Porou) is a Professor of Education and Maori Development and Pro Vice Chancellor Maori at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. Smith shared her own process of being involved in research and how the community has to be ready and willing to ask questions. She discusses research with Indigenous communities and how that informs our work now and how it will impact our work as school psychologists and school counselors in the future.

Cutcha Risling Baldy

Cutcha Risling Baldy (Hupa, Karuk, Yurok) is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Native American Studies at Humboldt State University. She focuses on Indigenous feminisms, California Indians, and decolonization. Risling Baldy has knowledge of research regarding revitalization of ceremonies from the Hupa tribe and offers insight to how research can look different from Western practice. She emphasizes that community building and qualitative information through a Native lens can be beneficial when conducting research. One noteworthy comment Risling Baldy mentioned, in contrast to Western research, was that she allowed interviewees in her research to edit what they had originally said, illustrating the depth of respect using this indigenous methodology. Risling Baldy’s perspective with research is intentional and invaluable.