ABOR Consultation Policy & UArizona Guidelines
ABOR 1-118 Tribal Consultation Policy
ABOR 1-118 Tribal Consultation Policy functions as the highest level of authority, outlining ABOR's expectations and requirements when engaging with Native Nations, by recognizing fundamental principles of tribal sovereignty, consultation, and respect. ABOR 1-118 B(2)(b)) requires that all human and non-human research projects, including both unfunded and funded sponsored projects, UArizona Foundation initiatives, contracts, intra-university agreements, and other instruments related to tribal engagement must be supported by documented evidence of consultation and approval.
UArizona Guidelines for Research and Engagement
As a Research I Land Grant Institution, the University of Arizona has developed its own consultation guidelines, adopted in 2018 by the Senior Vice President for Research. It is the responsibility of the University of Arizona faculty, student, or professional to determine and abide by the Native Nation's required procedures or protocol for review, approval, and regulation of research or institutional engagement, and to abide by the University of Arizona Consultation Guidelines. To find out if consultation and evidence of consultation is required for your work, see the University of Arizona Consultation Guidelines below.
Fundamental Concepts
For Research/Institutional Engagement with Native Nations & Indigenous Communities
Documentation of Native Nation approval must demonstrate that free, prior, and informed consent for the research or institutional engagement has been obtained. The evidence of consent must be sufficient to demonstrate that the consent was provided prior to the research or institutional engagement and is based on adequate information regarding the intent of the research or institutional engagement and the ongoing use of resulting data.
- Free: Consultation shall be effectuated in good faith, lacking coercion or pressure, allowing for the Native Nation collectively, or its citizens individually, to formulate independent points of view and to raise possible concerns.
- Prior: Consultation must take place in advance of any decision made on the part of the University to proceed with research or institutional engagement that may impact Native Nations’ rights or interests.
- Informed: Native Nations or their citizens have full access to all information relevant to the decision-making process, which is presented clearly, accurately, and in terms easily understood by all parties.
- Consent: The consensus and/or consent of the Native Nations in accordance with the Tribe’s traditional customary law. Under these circumstances, consent does not necessarily mean that every individual Native Nation citizen must agree but rather that consensus will be determined pursuant to customary law and practice of the Native Nation.