Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

8-2026

Abstract

This is a working paper produced as part of National Science Foundation project #2115169, “Transforming Rural-Urban Systems: Trajectories for Sustainability in the Intermountain West,” known as the “Intermountain West Transformation Network” (TN), led by the University of New Mexico with institutional partners at three additional universities in New Mexico, two in Arizona, and one each in Utah, Colorado, and Washington. The TN’s Indigenous and Tribal engagement was supported through a contract with Dr. Sharon Hausam, additional work by Aaron M. Canter, coordination with Dr. Lani Tsinnajinnie, and an Advisory Committee on Indigenous Information Needs primarily comprised of Indigenous representatives in New Mexico. The project worked to enable researchers to interact more effectively with Indigenous and Tribal communities. This part of the project compiled and analyzed seventeen published articles that each describe research on climate or sustainability themes related to the TN; state that the research includes a successful partnership with one or more Indigenous community, Native nation, or organizations representing their interests; and provide information on that partnership. The team analyzed the articles based on criteria for meaningful information products of the research and ethical processes in Indigenous research. Scores for the criteria are compiled in narrative and spreadsheet form. Preliminary results indicate that some of the strongest, most ethical, and respectful research came from labs or universities with long-standing relationships with Indigenous communities and Native nations. Yet even in strong examples, the weakest component in the published articles was data ownership and data sovereignty.

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