Extending Research Protections to Tribal Communities

Abstract

Abstract The history of research in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities has been marked by unethical practices, resulting in mistrust and reluctance to participate in research. Harms are not limited to individual persons—tribal communities experience harmful misrepresentation and generalizations disrespectful of AI/AN groups’ heritage, cultures, and beliefs. The Belmont Report’s research ethics principles are applied primarily to protect individual research participants. The principles of sovereignty and solidarity are argued to be important concepts in extending Belmont’s research protections to tribal communities. Sovereignty, an expression of respect for autonomy at a group level, is the basis for tribal self-determination. The principle of solidarity provides an ethical underpinning for tribes’ obligations to protect community interests and culture. Extension of Belmont through these principles should serve to minimize harms to AI/AN groups in research.