| MATTHEW TAFOYA (Navajo/Diné, Tewa), Director, Research Coordinator, Navajo Technical University Innovation Center, University of Arizona and Navajo Technical University

Presenter shares his collaborative efforts to generate useful data within a Tribal setting that will be used to drive Navajo Nation economic policy for the goal of Native Nation Building and rebuilding an Indigenous economy.  Because the Navajo Nation has unique attributes common among Native American Tribes, it is has a need for non-census data specific to the Navajo Nation. Navajo consumer data, consumer spending patterns, number of trips off the reservation to shop, specific locations to shop, Navajo food independence, types of industry, priorities for industry, and ecological restoration are just a few topics that could inform political action. Presenter walks colleagues through the process of finding partners, designing research agenda, Indigenizing research, settling on research questions, and determining roles and responsibilities for all involved. Lastly, presenter shares how research and data are used to inform tribal law and policy as the Navajo Nation seeks to Native Nation Build.