Community-Engaged and Culturally Relevant Research to Develop Behavioral Health Interventions with American Indians and Alaska Natives

“Something Was Attacking Them and Their Reproductive Organs”: Environmental Reproductive Justice in an Indigenous Tribe in the United States Gulf Coast

“…This article utilizes data from a broader research project investigating the reproductive and sexual health experiences of women from an Indigenous tribe in the Gulf South. Best practices to ensure a just and decolonizing research project were employed [ 16 , 65 , 66 ]. The non-Indigenous lead author was introduced to tribal members through work with another researcher collaborating with the tribe.…”

“…The non-Indigenous lead author was introduced to tribal members through work with another researcher collaborating with the tribe. A community-engaged approach, which is shown to be especially important when working with Indigenous communities [ 16 , 65 ], was utilized at every step of the research process, and the project was designed in collaboration with tribal leaders, who also helped with recruitment and the dissemination of results to the tribe.…”

“…A qualitative descriptive methodology was used, with semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviewing as the primary method. Per recommendation from tribal leaders, and in accordance with best practices in conducting research among Indigenous people [ 16 , 65 , 67 ], the interviews included overtones of a life-history approach. A descriptive methodology was used instead of an overly interpretive methodology to ensure a clear interpretation of interviewees words.…”

“…This severing of the relationship with the land then has important implications for the health and well-being of Indigenous populations [ 9 ]. This works to force assimilation, potentially continuing the settler colonialist process of elimination of the native population, though Indigenous populations have been particularly resilient in this regard despite these enormous obstacles [ 15 , 16 ]. Hoover et al (2012) also point out that because Indigenous communities have a stronger reliance on the land, any kind of environmental injustice tends to have greater consequences than would be seen in the general population [ 3 ].…”

“…Occupational options are in part limited because of a long history of educational discrimination. In addition, because of this history, English is not the first language of all tribal members [ 16 , 20 , 29 , 45 , 54 ]. Although it is becoming less frequent, historically, tribal members would visit Indigenous healers for healthcare [ 6 , 45 , 54 ].…”