Abstract:

Since the inception of Cultural and Health Tribal institutional review boards (IRBs) for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in 1998, formal proposals for academic research among the Tribe has averaged about 50 per year. The EBCI needed a formal process to accomplish three things: 1) review requests to protect the Tribe’s interests, 2) ensure the research was culturally appropriate and respectful, and 3) to ensure data control by the Tribe, exercising their right to intellectual sovereignty. Also, this formal review process was necessary due to receipt of federal grant funds to conduct research involving human subjects. It is expected by the IRB members that researchers whose research has been approved by the respective EBCI IRB would fully comply with tribal expectations that reflect the goals of sovereignty and self-determination.