From Dialogue to Action: Inside the Creation of the Wise Practices Toolkit for Engagement With American Indian/Alaska Native Communities

The Wise Practices for Outreach, Messaging, and Engagement With American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Communities (Wise Practices) toolkit, developed through collaboration between the Community Engagement Alliance Consultative Resource (CEACR) and the AI/AN CEAL Collaborative, serves as a resource for researchers seeking to engage respectfully and effectively with AI/AN communities. Rooted in dialogue, cultural respect, and shared expertise, the toolkit provides guidance on building meaningful, accountable partnerships. Below, CEACR and AI/AN CEAL Collaborative partners share insights on the purpose, development, and impact of this resource.

What is the purpose of the Wise Practices Toolkit? Who is the intended audience, and how do you envision them using it?

The toolkit provides guidance for researchers engaging with AI/AN communities, including recommendations on working with Tribal leadership, structures, and community partners, as well as using language, terminology, and imagery that are respectful and effective.

Its intended audience includes researchers, study teams, and institutions seeking to initiate or strengthen engagement with Native communities. The resource is practical and actionable, helping guide communication and relationship-building throughout the research process.

Why is this an important resource for researchers and research institutions?

The toolkit emphasizes approaching engagement with Native communities with the right intent — demonstrating respect, good manners, and strong allyship. This foundational mindset shapes all other guidance.

It also highlights responsibility, not only in initial engagement, but also in how researchers and institutions follow up and remain accountable. This focus encourages ongoing accountability and relationship-building.

Additionally, the resource provides a strong starting point for researchers, offering practical steps toward successful engagement. Importantly, it also helps mitigate potential harm, even when researchers have the best intentions, by encouraging thoughtful, culturally grounded approaches.

How was this resource created? Who were the key partners involved?

The resource was developed through a partnership between CEACR and the AI/AN CEAL Collaborative. In 2022, CEACR facilitated expert panel sessions focused on outreach and engagement materials developed by research teams, including those aimed at recruiting AI/AN participants.

The toolkit was refined through an iterative, conversation-based process. During “talk story” sessions, collaborators discussed recommendations, expanded on key points, and refined language together. Content was reviewed across multiple meetings, allowing time for feedback and deeper reflection.

Member-checking was built into follow-up discussions, where participants reviewed prior content, suggested updates, and finalized sections before moving forward. The process was intentional, iterative, and consensus-driven.

What steps were taken to ensure the resource reflects AI/AN voices and perspectives?

The AI/AN CEAL Collaborative represents a broad network across the CEAL platform and is dedicated to community-centered research driven by and for AI/AN communities.

Representation included Regional Teams, the American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Enrichment Initiative, and Alliance for Community Engagement – Partnership for Action Toward Health, ensuring a range of perspectives. The iterative review process, spanning multiple meetings and feedback opportunities, helped ensure the resource authentically reflects community voices and experiences.

What are a few valuable lessons learned during this resource development process?

When developing resources to support community engagement, it is important to: 

• Co-develop the resource with individuals who have expertise working with the specific community you are developing a resource around.
• Acknowledge and address complexities, like historical context and power dynamics, that may affect how that specific community feels about being involved in research.
• Allow space for multiple discussions over time to allow space for reflection and strengthen feedback and decision-making.
• Encourage active listening during working sessions.
• Promote participatory collaboration, as it can produce high-quality results without being extractive.
• Lead an intentional collaborative process rooted in mutual respect, demonstrating that respectful partnerships lead to stronger results.

What additional resources are in development to support researchers?

Future efforts include Wise Practices Use Cases, which will highlight real-world examples of how researchers and CEAL research teams apply these practices in ongoing engagement.

Additionally, guidance on navigating Tribal Institutional Review Board (IRB) and research review processes is being developed to further support researchers working with AI/AN communities.

The Wise Practices Toolkit represents a meaningful step toward more respectful, accountable research with AI/AN communities. By centering collaboration, dialogue, and community expertise, CEACR and the AI/AN CEAL Collaborative have created a resource that not only guides researchers, but also encourages lasting, ethical partnerships.