Partnering with American Indian communities in strength-based collaborative health research: Guiding principles from the Fort Peck Ceremony of ResearchProject.

BACKGROUND: The Ceremony of Research Project was implemented to strengthen tribal communities' ability to harmonize Western research processes with Indigenous ways of knowing. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted with tribal members to understand Indigenous processes, beliefs, and practices necessary to promote positive research experiences with tribal communities. RESULTS: Findings address time; relationship building and maintenance; inclusion of diverse tribal members in the research design, as well as American Indian epistemology; respect for tribal values, beliefs, and customs throughout the research process; and the reciprocity of research. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has important implications for how researchers can take a strengthbased approach to conducting research with tribal communities.