Working With and Conducting Research Among American Indian Families

Abstract

Acquiring and using cultural competence in service delivery or research is a process in which the service provider or researcher must acknowledge cultural differences, develop awareness of personal cultural values, understand cross-cultural interactions, learn the family's culture, and adapt the program or research project to fit the culture. Recently, American Indian communities have begun to assume a major role in the control of service delivery and research efforts in their communities due to their special status as sovereign nations and their efforts to protect the cultural integrity of the program or research. This article will outline and offer insight into the cultural, historical, social, and spiritual issues that must be learned prior to and when conducting service or program delivery or research among American Indian communities.