Centering Indigenous Knowledges in Community-Based Participatory Research

A Authentic equity-centered partnerships between researchers and community teams can generate new evidence and understanding to propel action for improving community health. This study describes a Community/Tribally-Based Participatory Research (C/TBPR) approach to implementing a population estimation and qualitative study aimed at understanding the prevalence and correlates of substance use in two geographically and culturally distinct American Indian Tribal Nations. We describe steps taken to build relationships for trust and collaboration during the global pandemic and lessons learned about feasibility and applicability of the capture/recapture method in reservation contexts. Tenets of CBPR are rooted in action research and liberatory traditions and include attention to power dynamics, bidirectional learning, action-focused research, and prioritizing local knowledge and leadership. These were necessary ingredients for project success. This study reinforces the critical role of community leadership and knowledge in health equity research and highlights how C/TBPR orientations can be useful for promoting Indigenous-centered research and transforming systems of knowledge production.