Originally launched in 2016, the Native Nations Institute’s (NNI) hybrid Native Know-How (NKH) seminar is an annual educational event designed to bring resources, insights, and perspectives from researchers and members of Native nations throughout the United States to non-Native individuals and organizations working directly with or intending to work with Native nations and Indigenous Peoples.  

The intention of the program is to expand the capacity for non-Native professionals to dispel any preconceived notions about Indigenous Peoples they might have while also providing background on the process for working with Native nations in ways that are mutually beneficial. 

This year’s August 5^th event was held at the University of Arizona’s award-winning Environment & Natural Resources 2 building and online. In total, 44 individuals attended, including representatives of such organizations as: 

Meeting Tribes “Where They Are” 

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A classroom filled nearly to capacity listened in as NNI Executive Director Joan Timeche (Hopi), NNI Tribal & Direct Services Manager Naomi Tom (Tohono O’odham), and NNI Tribal & Direct Services Outreach Specialist Kevin Fortuin provided summary insights on the formation of Tribal-U.S. relationships, current intergovernmental relations, an overview on significant cultural differences and government structures, and dispelling of stereotypes that are harmful to Indigenous Peoples. This was the last NKH seminar presented by Timeche, who will retire at the end of the year, and Tom, who recently accepted a director-level position at another Arizona university. 

“The more that we’re culturally aware, the better we can meet tribes where they’re at,” says TEP Land Manager Rachel Hohl. She further noted how crucial mutual understanding and cultural sensitivity are for strong working relationships with tribes, especially since TEP infrastructure often crosses through Tribal lands.  

Working with Native nations requires a unique understanding of the culture and governmental processes of the nation or nations in question. And, as regulations change and infrastructure expands, learning how to properly engage Native nations as independent and solitary entities rather than as single components of a cultural monolith builds understanding and enables cooperative working relationships to develop. 

“We’re facilitating greater awareness and being good neighbors by learning about what each other is doing,” Timeche says. “That way we can better address common concerns and challenges.” She says that not all non-Native organizations take the time and employ the steps necessary to engage with Native nations properly, which results in lost trust, soured relations, and stalled projects. The NKH seminar, Timeche says, “… is a great reminder for folks that we [Indigenous peoples] are still here and they still have to work with us.”