The tribal colleges validate the work of community scholars, people who have devoted their entire lifetimes to studying tribal history, stories, belief systems, and cultural practices. The colleges attract academic scholars, both Indian and non-Indian, who become part of the community. None of the colleges have come close to realizing their potential capacity for research, however. They never have enough resources, time, or money. There is nothing comparable to the institutional and grant support that most academics have come to assume as a part of their position.
Cooperation can stretch resources to improve research in Native communities.
Occasionally graduate students ask us how to conduct effective research in tribal communities. If their agenda serves the community, Crazy Bull acknowledges the value of their research. Peacock emphasizes the attitude of the researchers, whether Indian or non-Indian. There have always been a few non-Indian scholars who understood how to work with Native communities effectively, as exemplified by Robert Young's work creating the Navajo dictionary and Frank Water's work on behalf of the Hopi and the Taos Pueblo. Some California tribes are now learning their language from wax cylinder recordings collected decades ago by non-Indian linguists.