| SERENA NATONABAH (Navajo/Diné), Graduate Researcher and Project Lead, Colorado State University &

| AIDA WATES, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Colorado State University 

The overarching question for this project is: How are climate adaptation initiatives addressing calls for policy and practices that support rather than erode Tribal sovereignty and self-determination? As guided and co-produced with a transdisciplinary team including Southwest Tribal rights-holders, we center three fundamental study questions and objectives for shifting from extractive to self-determined research and data governance: Q1) What are current patterns and trends in Indigenous research and data governance for climate adaptation projects engaging Indigenous knowledges and practices? Obj1) Conduct a U.S. national-scale scoping review Q2) To what extent, and through what processes are Indigenous-focused climate adaptation projects in the Southwest addressing key areas of concern as defined by Indigenous value and governance systems (e.g., sovereignty, relationships, cultural humility, ethics, data and resource sharing practices, etc.)? Obj2) Draw on Indigenous research and governance frameworks, and knowledge sharing guidelines for federal/non-Tribal and Tribal partnerships to complete a regional, cross-case analysis. Q3) What factors and indicators characterize Indigenous self-determined climate adaptation initiatives as shared through an exchange of Tribal success stories? Obj3) Host an inter-Tribal knowledge exchange and participatory mapping workshop with Southwest Tribal resource managers and decision-makers. The questions in this presentation address extractive research practices in the United States and will help to provide examples of self-determined Indigenous research. Examples include: access to data reflecting community priorities, values, and knowledge-bases, rather than external agendas; strengthening nation-to-nation relationships and engaging in meaningful Indigenous consultation.