158267 Affirming tribal sovereignty and self-determination by applying the principles of CBPR in addressing cancer health disparities

Wednesday, November 7, 2007: 9:00 AM

Cynthia Claus, MPH , Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
Priscilla Antone , Tribal Council, Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, AZ
Amelia Enos , Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, AZ
Connie Jackson , Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, AZ
Yvonne Stovall , Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, AZ
Mary Thomas , Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, AZ
Sandra Whitman , Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, AZ
Pattie King , Cancer Services, Gila River Health Care Corporation, Sacaton, AZ
Michele Halyard, MD , Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
Adelaide Bahr, MD , Cancer Services, Gila River Health Care Corporation, Sacaton, AZ
Jody Pelusi, PhD, FNP, AOCN , Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Glendale, AZ
Teri Britt-Pipe, PhD, RN , Nursing Research, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
As the continent's first societies, American Indian tribes hold their status as sovereign nations, an inherent standing and power of a people to govern themselves. Self-determination policy is ideally a means by which tribes can realize the full potential of their sovereign powers. In the context of Indian policy, self-determination is a tribally-derived term and concept that entails a totality of tribal goals that can be placed in four interrelated categories: tribal self-rule, cultural survival, economic development, and tribal participation within and without the policy-making process. Until recently, much of research implemented within tribal communities has not embodied or affirmed the basic tenets of sovereignty or self-determination policy. However, the applied principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR) complement the goals of tribal self-determination and may ultimately contribute to the success of research partnerships with tribal communities to address health disparities. A case study will provide examples of the application of CBPR and its contribution to the successful implementation of research to address cancer health disparities in a tribal community by: addressing a tribally developed research question, selection of a culturally responsive research methodology, provision of cross-cultural education between partnering organizations, community education and training, and the active participation of a community advisory group throughout all phases of the research.

Learning Objectives:
1. Articulate the importance and difference between the concept of tribal sovereignty and the policy of tribal self-determination. 2. Identify the applied principles of CBPR that affirm tribal self-determination. 3. Describe the contribution of CBPR in the implementation of cancer health disparities research in a tribal community. 4. Assess the contribution of CBPR in addressing the distrust of research in a tribal community.

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Native Americans

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.