Missouri Breaks Industries Research

Creating Opportunities for Health.

Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Cheyenne River Reservation. Since 1988.

Missouri Breaks Industries Research is a tribally based research organization on the Cheyenne River Reservation. We serve the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and the Spirit Lake Nation.

We are the Northern Plains field center for the Strong Heart Study — the longest-running study of cardiovascular health in American Indian communities ever conducted. But that's what we do. Who we are is something different.

We are community members — from Cheyenne River, Pine Ridge, and Spirit Lake — doing this work because we believe research about Indian Country should be run by Indian Country. We hire locally. We train locally. When someone joins our team, we build researchers — not temporary data collectors.

We listen to our community first — always have. We've been here for nearly forty years, and we'll be here for what comes next.

Advancing innovative solutions through partnerships, data, and understanding.

2 — Our Values

How does Missouri Breaks apply Lakota values?

These aren't principles we adopted from a textbook. They come from the people who started this work, the communities we serve, and the culture we belong to. They guide every decision we make — from how we design a study to how we enter someone's home.

Wočhékiya — Prayer
Our work is a fulfilled prayer.
Over thirty years ago, we sought to create opportunities for health for Native people. This work is the answer to that prayer — and we carry it forward every day.
Waóhola — Respect
Respect for decision makers, participants, and Lakota culture.
We respect the wishes of tribal leadership. We respect the people who trust us with their time, their stories, and their health information. We respect the culture that makes this work possible.
Waúŋšila — Compassion
Compassion for participants facing health challenges.
The people in our studies are not data points. They are relatives, neighbors, and elders living with real health conditions. We meet them with care.
Wówičhake — Honesty
Honesty about what to expect.
Honesty about what participation in a study means. Honesty through the informed consent process. Honesty about Lakota considerations that participants should think about before sharing information about themselves.
Wawókhiye — Generosity
Giving back to the communities that support our work.
We practice generosity by returning results to the community — through giveaways, presentations, and plain-language summaries. We do not gatekeep the knowledge that belongs to the people who made it possible.
Wahwála — Humility
Humility for the people who let us in.
When someone allows us into their home to set up medical equipment, or agrees to participate in a study, that is a gift. We never forget that.
Wóksape — Wisdom
We value the wisdom of all staff members.
We elevate knowledge through workgroups so that every team member — from new hires to senior staff — can share their wisdom and grow as researchers.

3 — Our Commitment

Missouri Breaks has been committed to ethical research since 1988.

We know the history. The federal health system sterilized 25,000 Native women without consent in the 1960s and 70s. Boarding schools took children and some never came home. When government agencies said "trust us, this is for your benefit," the result was harm.

That's not ancient history. People in our communities remember. So when we say we're committed to doing this right, we understand why that gets scrutinized. It should be scrutinized. Here is what we commit to — every study, every time:

1
All research is approved by the relevant Tribe and Institutional Review Board / Research Review Board (IRB/RRB).
2
All researchers and staff are trained and have strict rules they must follow to protect research participant's safety and confidentiality.
3
Participants will be informed of the risks and benefits during the informed consent process. A Lakota speaker will be provided if requested. No research is done without consent.
4
Researchers will only use the participant information they have permission to use.
5
Participants can withdraw from a study at any time with no questions asked.
6
Studies will not be done without a clear purpose or benefit to the participants or the community.

4 — How We Work

Research done with community, not to community.

A successful partnership between tribal communities and outside researchers requires clear roles and shared accountability. We don't hand off our community's questions to someone else to answer. We stay involved from the first idea to the final outcome.

Here's how that works at every stage:

Research Concept & Study Design
The community identifies the problems and solutions. We lead the development of surveys, consent materials, and recruitment — with community-specific modifications. External researchers bring literature reviews, promising models, and subject expertise. But the questions come from here.
Data Handling
Data is collected by local staff. The community perspective shapes analysis. We are the data owners — we control storage and sharing. External partners handle technical data cleaning and analysis, but they respect tribal data ownership and sharing protocols at every step.
Dissemination
Results go back to participants, tribal leaders, local professionals, and the broader community — through presentations, multimedia, and plain-language materials. We identify a "home" for the information to live. External partners lead the publication process and support local presentations on request.
Sustainable Outcomes
We identify opportunities to turn science into programs, advocate for policy changes, and pursue funding. External partners support policy and practice changes on request, provide legislative expertise, and share in the pursuit of new funding. The goal is outcomes that outlast any single grant cycle.

We also evaluate every potential partnership against four guiding principles:

Tribal Community Relevance
Does this project address a need and priority of the tribal community? Does it have local support?
Research Partner History
Has this partner demonstrated ethical conduct, respect for local culture, accountability to commitments, and partnerships that are equitable and reciprocal?
Missouri Breaks Capacity
Do we have the capacity to fulfill the scope of work for the full duration of the project?
Sustainable Impact
Is there a clear plan to translate the science into knowledge the community can use? Are the partners invested in building capacity here — not just extracting data?

5 — Lakota Considerations

What participants should think about before joining a study.

Lakota beliefs and teachings may differ by situation and between Tiyóšpaye (families) and traditional leaders. The following are examples of beliefs practiced by some Lakota people. We do not wish to force any beliefs on research participants — but we support them in taking time to talk to people they trust about these considerations.

7 Generations Principle
The decisions we make and actions we take today should be informed by past generations and help future generations.
All parts of the body are Wakȟáŋ (sacred).
Research studies may ask you to provide samples from your body. This is something to consider carefully and discuss with people you trust.
Everything from a Hokšíčala belongs to Até and Iná.
Everything from a baby belongs to the father and mother. This could be important when considering who should provide consent to participate in a study.
Hair represents a connection to the ancestors.
Hair could be used for harm if it's in the wrong hands. Some participants may want to know whether hair samples are part of a study.
The Čhépa (umbilical cord) connects a person to their Iná and the land.
The umbilical cord may be saved, signifying connection to mother and homeland. If it is lost, the person may feel a need to search for something missing.
Wholeness matters at death.
To some, it is important that they are buried with all parts of themselves. This is relevant when studies involve collecting or storing biological samples.

We encourage every potential participant to talk to the people they trust — a family member, an elder, a healthcare provider, a spiritual leader, a close friend, a teacher or mentor — before making a decision. And our staff are always available to help.

Your participation is your choice. We are here to make sure it's an informed one.