How can you build trust and rapport with Native American communities?

In my experience we all need to read the story about the "Trail of Tears". This is a must read to understand what we put them through. They certainly could have done us in while we were sleeping, but they didn't. We put them through hell and took their rights away and stole their lands and killed their people! We should be more than grateful to them for our transgressions against their lives and heritage! We owe them big time!

I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel with my Aunt and Uncle to Taos, New Mexico at age 9 to spend time with the Pueblo Indians. My Uncle was a Medical Doctor in Texas, who became a regular visitor to their reservation when he made trips to Colorado. He loved the fact that I had studied the Pueblo Indians in school and had a desire to "walk in their moccasins." I fell in love with them. They honored my knowledge by allowing me to dance with them at a ceremony honoring my Uncle. My Uncle had humility and cultural competency. He respected their values and had empathy for their struggles. From that day forward, I learned a valuable lesson: to build trust, you need to respect one's values and walk in their shoes❣️

Through my experience with Native American communities, I learned that showing up in-person, building rapport and bringing solutions works well. This takes time. A sincere interest in Native American traditions also works. We have to be careful about not making this common mistake: Victimizing any community and showing up as the savior. Rather, we must become allies. Sincerity, empathy, and utmost respect for the culture do work. Hope this perspective helps!

Hmmmm, with what my Biafran people went through and are going through with and in Nigeria....I can only imagine the pain the Native Americans went through and are going through. Rich in their beliefs and culture, they are spiritually strong people. Whatever they believe in or are fighting for, they do not and will not give up. I will identify with them , make them my family so we can build trust. Whatever you do...do not belittle their pain and suffering.

Acting like a professional most of the times when many people meet Americans they think of opportunity and fail to consider the fact that they need to create some connections first. It's also good when we consider the fact that it is important to always learn the culture

I remember "500 Nations," the 1995 docu-fiction TV miniseries produced and hosted by Kevin Costner. A work that contributed to our understanding of the complex diversity of Native Americans. In the same way as cultural heritage, which is produced by humans, it becomes important to understand and delve into human heritage, that is, the human history behind the development of a certain place. It is essential for the USA to return as far as possible to the sources of its own history, which in Native people has extremely varied and deep foundations. Assimilating as much as possible these vast archives of human memory will make us more knowledgeable and comprehensive in the face of the many challenges of the near future.

Everytime I've collaborated with Tribal members, the first thing I recognize is my gender. Not only am I African American and Native more importantly I'm a woman. Tribal men are not accustom to converse in small talk with women, it's frowned upon by elders and community. Traditionally men and women do not sit and talk unless there is a familia connection, professional, or community member. The diversity that exist between our cultures is a beautiful dance of old and new. The value of limiting your initial communication to just listen, gives time to learn and understand the nuances of the specific tribe. Similarly to countries, each tribal community traditions and culture norms go back thousands of years. Respect is given!

In my experience diversity is more than the physical attributes we can ‘see’ in others. It also includes opinions, experiences, languages, and more. While the first contact is often visual, only by engaging with others in order to “learn what they know” can we expect to accept them and be accepted by them. Too often we can have our motivations for mutual understanding hijacked by our reluctance to ignore our first impression or our inability to recognize that whomever we are trying to engage with is also getting a first impression of us! It’s often extremely difficult to walk back a careless, or unintentional statement or gesture. But, if our first contact reflects our genuine consideration for others, misunderstanding are overcome.

An important point! We often don’t have a sense of intra-group diversity and so working with experts and community leaders can help build an understanding of this. They can help to guide your sampling approach and also research topics.

Native people are steeped in tradition. Tradition establishes community structure, elders role, and individual autonomy. Americans march, vote and riot for human rights and to be a melting pot. In any collaboration with the Tribe, tradition is woven through every aspect of self and community. Native spirituality is a considerable factor in business, community, family, education, and all physical and mental activities. Native spirituality is a vital component to all things, especially business. Factors to consider. Traditions include elders and community simultaneously. Any communication should be limited to listen and learn, only speak to clarify, until asked to speak. Most important understand Natives only work with trusted Americans.

I find that project collaboration is the best authentic and safe way for White Americans to work with my people. If we can't trust you in business; we can't trust you with our families or those we love. Genuine space is opened up to decide whether working relationships are worth opening up to more intimate and personal relationships. Just because I'm a Native American doesn't mean that you have to like me and vice-a-versa.

Absolutely. One thing I have noticed is, they find it hard to open up to strangers. They can be nice to you, welcoming and all but they don't easily share their guarded thoughts. You must earn it. They need our prayers for their pain to heal....it's long overdue. It's only the true owners of the land that can speak to the land. Inculcate them into government, atleast start from there ,

From my point of view, something needs to be done so they can heal and the land , can have a new and right begining. The people that violated them and their rights should repent and ask for forgiveness, spiritually and prophetically return the land back to them.

In 12 days, we in Australia are having a “voice” referendum, all This means is there will be an independent indigenous body to advise government on indigenous affairs - a good idea and Pretty non controversial but is causing so much strange angst In the community. A good idea to have an advisory body, but a referendum is a bad idea. It should just exist in societies with indigenous populations and Have been colonised.

A colleague remarked that in the ‘transactional’ conversation each party is tuned into the same (different) radio station: WiiFM (What’s in it For Me). If instead, we approach the relationship with a service orientation we can short circuit the WiiFM mentality and move the project forward. Having a clear objective in mind, creating an acceptable framework and developing a mutually beneficial pathway forward takes a level of transparency that not everyone is comfortable with. Those with the discipline to keep the objective in the forefront of any collaboration, conversation, or activity will be rewarded with success.

I am a Black & Indigenous (Choctaw) woman. The number of times I've heard "too many chiefs, not enough Indians" or "let's powwow" in corporate settings is alarming. Historically, we have been erased so many times. There absolutely needs to be intentional (Native-led) steps towards reclamation. Trust can be built through paying Indigenous creators instead of "Indigenous-inspired" creators...protecting the environment in the traditions of our ancestors...cooperative economics. Right now, there are countless numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women out here. What steps have we taken to address this and build trust? Here are some Native creators to support: Maria Parra Cano, Maimouna Youssef, LeAnn Littlewolf, & Madonna Thunder Hawk.

Something to consider that goes against the general flow of business is taking the opportunity to over deliver. I took my vehicle in because the battery wouldn’t hold a charge. In addition to replacing the battery (which was defective) the mechanic did a full systems check to ensure the other electrical components were functioning properly…without charge. Similarly, when we engage in a project and add value or a benefit to the other parties, even when it doesn’t benefit us or further our goals, we over deliver. The key is to do so ‘without’ any agenda beyond providing the best experience possible. If we are rewarded in years to come, great! Otherwise, being of service is our reward.

Every nation has its indigenous people and you can never "own" the land more than them. God gave it to them. Whenever I go on missions to a new Country, I prayerfully seek out the indigenous people and tell them my reasons for visiting their land and ask them to pray for me. I once arrived at a particular country and was welcomed by the elders of the land, who insisted, I must stand and wait for a cup of water. If I can drink from that cup, they will open the "gates" of the land to receive me. The water came, in a very dirty cup, I prayed and drank it and they blessed me. It was in that country years later, My Daily Spring Devotional that God is using to touch lives all over the world was birthed.

In Fowlerville, MI, there is the untold story of how the schools just shut down the "Indian Education program" in about 1999 or 2000. The Native Americans were so upset with things that many decided to move to Area 6, which I am not certain of its location. Burial grounds were believed to be desecrated. I do not have more information, but this is a solid story for someone who has the time to research it and can afford to investigate the situation.

Our stance on Indigenous rights and treaties acknowledges the ongoing injustices and genocide against Indigenous peoples, which continue despite the signing of treaties—rendering these treaties void. Verbal New Treaty: I, Habiba Desai, solemnly commit to entering the land of the Indigenous nations in a spirit of peace, with a sincere intent for the pursuit of peace. I hereby pledge to honor and uphold the sovereignty of the Indigenous nations over the land and its natural resources. I undertake to fully comply with all relevant laws and regulations established by the Indigenous nations governing this land.