Date of Award

August 2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Indigenous Health

First Advisor

Shawnda Schroeder

Abstract

The practice of good medicine should be universal and accessible to all; however, for many Indigenous communities, equitable healthcare remains elusive. The historical trauma experienced by Indigenous peoples continues to shape health disparities and institutional mistrust, yet Indigenous communities persist through strength, resilience, sovereignty, and Indigenous knowledge systems. The products that follow embody strengths-based approaches that elevate and support Indigenous science, health, and self-determination. The manuscript identifies key elements necessary to establish the feasibility and institutional support for a peer-reviewed journal centered on Indigenous Health within the United States. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with journal editors and staff experienced in Indigenous-focused or community-centered academic publishing. The study achieved an 80% participation rate, resulting in four completed interviews. Initial emergent coding produced eight codes and three overarching themes. Findings highlighted the importance of relational accountability, Indigenous governance, community engagement, and sustainable infrastructure in establishing an Indigenous Health journal.The grant proposal builds upon the manuscript findings by documenting the start-up process for establishing an Indigenous Health Journal housed at the University of North Dakota. The proposed journal centers Indigenous knowledge systems and prioritizes ethical, reciprocal research practices with American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Key activities include: (1) determining open-access publication infrastructure; (2) formalizing partnerships with Tribal Nations, beginning with the five federally recognized Tribes in North Dakota; (3) establishing editorial policies, reviewer criteria, and governance structures; (4) defining operational and personnel requirements; and (5) designing submission, review, and publication workflows. Collectively, these activities will result in a fully developed blueprint for launching a sustainable, community-engaged journal.

The policy brief emphasizes the ethical and legal responsibilities associated with the use and sharing of Indigenous knowledge and science. Federal law and policy, including consultation requirements administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior and frameworks such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tribal Consultation Policy, demonstrate that structured, documented consultation processes are both feasible and necessary when actions may affect Tribal lands, cultural resources, or sovereignty. Comparable policies, however, remain limited at the university level. To demonstrate the critical need for Tribal Consultation Policies within higher education, the policy brief includes case studies from four universities that have established such policies. These examples serve as both guidance and actionable frameworks for institutions seeking to develop respectful and effective Tribal consultation processes.

Indigenous knowledge and science are sacred, valuable, and enduring. Each product within this dissertation embodies principles of respect, transparency, reciprocity, and relational accountability in advancing ethical engagement with Indigenous communities and knowledge system.

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