Genetics Resource Center
American Indian and Alaska Native Genetic Research Resource Guide
The NCAI Policy Research Center received funding for two years from the National Institutes of Health National Human Genome Research Institute to create a web-based resource guide about genetics research for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. The primary target audiences for the project are tribal leaders and AI/AN community members. The goal of this project is to provide Native communities with the tools they need to confidently make their own informed decisions about genetics research.
This guide and NCAI do not seek to influence tribes either way about whether or not to participate in genetics research. Rather, the resource guide provides tribes with the tools to make their own informed and thoughtful decisions about genetics research participation. Review of the content was conducted by NIH staff and a select group of Native scholars, lawyers, tribal leaders, tribal program staff, and directors of Native non-profit organizations. Community review of the guide was completed in June 2012. The guide was released in September 2012 and is available below:
AI/AN Genetics Research Resource Guide website - under revision
A Spectrum of Perspectives: Native Peoples and Genetic Research Symposium - June 23, 2014
On June 23, 2014, the National Congress of American Indians, the National Human Genome Research Institute, and the National Museum of the American Indian co-hosted the symposium A Spectrum of Perspectives: Native Peoples and Genetic Research as a part of the Genome: Unlocking Life's Code exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The goal of the symposium was to demonstrate the range of perspectives in Native communities on genomics, highlight key topics for ongoing community conversation, and create a video recording to be shared with Native communities.