Building a community-based research partnership: Lessons from the Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne

The purpose of this article is to present a framework which describes the development of a community-based research partnership in a culturally distinct community. A research project, currently underway in collaboration with the Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne is described in which respect, equity, and empowerment(Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment, 1996), serve as guiding principles. Within this framework the dimensions of adapting styles of communication, gathering information, establishing a research agenda, gaining acceptance, sharing knowledge, negotiating roles, and resolving differences are discussed as essential components of the research process.