Find information about tribal research governance, UW-Madison research partnership hubs and student researcher opportunities.
Tribal Research Governance
National Congress of American Indian Policy Research Center
The National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center is a national, non-profit think tank dedicated to generating research and policy analyses that advance tribal sovereignty and emphasize the strengths of American Indian and Alaska Native cultures. It supports tribes and American Indian and Alaska Native communities working to develop research oversight processes and policies and has developed a curriculum, Research that Benefits Native People: A Guide for Tribal Leaders.
- IRB Guide for Tribal Leaders (pdf)
- Research Guide for Tribal Allies – Walk Softly and Listen Carefully (pdf)
Tribal Nations Research Group
The Tribal Nations Research Group promotes high-quality research relevant to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota and may provide a model for research relationships in Wisconsin and elsewhere. It provides custom-fit data and data ownership and promotes public and private economic development and opportunity. The group also provides quality research education materials designed to educate the community about research and the research process, according to standards established by the TNRG.
Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
GLIFWC provides natural resource management expertise, conservation enforcement, legal and policy analysis, and public information services in support of the exercise of treaty rights during well-regulated, off-reservation seasons throughout the treaty-ceded territories.
Research Protection Act
Link to a template for a Tribal IRB legislative proposal.
Exemplary Protocols, Articles, and Media on Research Partnerships
View recent exemplary and relevant research projects with Tribal and Indigenous Communities. This is a working list that is being compiled as of fall 2020. Topics include:
- Research processes and protocols
- Community-based participatory research
- Education
- Climate change and environmental justice
- GIS/spatial
- Health
UW-Madison Research Partnership Hubs
UW-Extension Native American Task Force
The role of the NATF is to build relationships and partnerships between UW-Extension, Native American communities and organizations. The work of the NATF is to help UW-Extension staff work more effectively with Native American communities, to build bridges between tribal and non-tribal communities, to facilitate communications related to working with Native American audiences, and to build working relationships between UW-Extension and the 1994 Land Grant Institutions.
American Indian Studies Program
The American Indian Studies Program works to foster an environment in which the university community can discover, examine and appreciate the cultures, traditions and values that reflect the many contributions American Indians have made and continue to make to the quality of life in contemporary society. The program provides information, referral and consultation to students, faculty, staff and citizens throughout the state.
School of Education: Act 31 Resource Center
The Act 31 Resource Center informs students about various diversity programs offered at UW-Madison.
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
The Nelson Institute is confronting global environmental challenges through imaginative research that transcends disciplinary boundaries, hands-on education that bridges classrooms and communities, and public programs that foster environmental conversations among people from business, government, academia, and advocacy.
Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP)
NACHP works with prospective students, current students and health professionals to serve as a central location within the UW School of Medicine and Public Health for opportunities of growth, professional development, mentorship, research and support. It offers innovative ways to continue to enhance our pipeline of Native health professional students, as well as keep students connected to Native health and wellness issues.
Indigenous Ecowell
The School of Human Ecology (SoHE) is home to several Native/Indigenous faculty whose work focuses on the intersections of Indigenous cultures, health, language, and community. SoHE faculty members are collaborating with campus partners and First Nations to develop the SoHE Indigenous EcoWell initiative. The intention is to build and engage a community of scholars, practitioners, undergraduate, and graduate students within this endeavor.
Great Lakes Indian Law Center
The Great Lakes Indian Law Center works to provide an academic and educational atmosphere and opportunity for law students to study federal, state and tribal laws affecting Indian tribes and their members. The center also provides legal assistance on uniquely tribal legal matters.
Student Researcher Opportunities
American Indian Science & Engineering Society
AISES is dedicated to removing barriers for the academic success of Native students, especially in fields of science.
Association of Native American Medical Students
The Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS) is a student organization representing Native American graduate health professions students throughout the US and Canada. The goals of ANAMS include providing support and a resource network for all Native Americans currently enrolled in various allied health professions schools. ANAMS strives to increase the number of Native American students in medicine and other health professions. The UW chapter is one of the most active.
Novel Ecosystems Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship
This Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) award trains the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists to design biodiversity conservation strategies in the face of novel environments, and develops an integrative program of experiential learning, engaged scholarship, and problem-focused research on biodiversity conservation.