There are 570 sovereign tribal nations in the United States, and more than 600 First Nations in Canada.  Because of their deep roots on the continent and their fraught history with European colonization, Indigenous communities present a unique situation compared to other communities for non-Indigenous scientists or agencies who seek to establish relationships and collaborations with Native American tribes and First Nations of Canada.  Indigenous communities have legitimate concerns about the motives of external parties and sensitivities of non-Indigenous actors to local values, cultures, and knowledges. There may also be differences in how research and management are viewed, in what questions to ask, and in how to conduct research. Despite such hurdles, collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups, individuals, and worldviews is essential to address ecological problems holistically.  The workshop will help span cultural boundaries by providing guidance, best practices and case studies on establishing respectful and mutually beneficial relationships and collaborative research and solutions to shared concerns. The workshop and discussion will be led by a panel of tribal scientists, agency liaisons, and ecological professionals with extensive experience working with tribes/First Nations.

The Ecological Society of America annual meeting has gone...