Building Trust and Partnership: Lessons from Working with Native Communities

Working alongside Native (American Indian) communities on fundraising, research, and program development projects is both an honor and a responsibility. As an outsider, one must understand that being welcomed into a tribal community is a privilege—one that begins with respect, humility, and a willingness to listen and learn.

Meeting with the Tribal Council

In most cases, before any project can begin, it’s necessary to meet with the Tribal Council to introduce yourself, explain your intentions, and seek approval for your proposed work. This process is not just a formality—it’s a foundation for trust. The work must always be approached as a true partnership, with benefits and knowledge returned to the community rather than taken away once the project concludes.

Whether you’re developing major federal grant proposals to support community infrastructure, advancing research initiatives, or supporting language- and culture-based development projects, blending the community’s own priorities with thoughtful research and grant expertise can help create results that make a lasting difference. The most meaningful work is that which aligns with each community’s cultural knowledge and objectives, ensuring that decisions are community-led and practices remain culturally grounded.

Approach every project with respect, cultural sensitivity, and accountability

Across every project, ongoing communication, cultural sensitivity, and accountability are essential. Recognizing the historical reality that many past research and engagement efforts were exploitative or non-reciprocal underscores the responsibility to work with transparency, respect, and reciprocity—so that what’s created together truly belongs to and benefits the community.

To work with Native communities is to be continually reminded that respect comes first. The relationships you build, the trust you earn, and the quality of your work all reflect your understanding that you are a guest—there to contribute, to listen, and to ensure the work remains with the people who shared their time, stories, and knowledge with you.

In turn, you’ll gain invaluable knowledge and perspective—and the outcome becomes something that can be shared and celebrated across the entire community.