Native Peoples Technical Assistance Office

RII: Native Peoples Technical Assistance Office (NPTAO)


As a core service unit, NPTAO serves as a primary research and resource liaison for Native affairs for the Office for Research, Innovation, and Impact (RII). This includes the Human Subjects Protection Program and Sponsored Projects review for compliance with the ABOR 1-118 Tribal Consultation Policy. NPTAO’s website resources are continuously updated for the UArizona community who seek basic information on collaborating with Arizona’s Native nations in research or institutional engagement on behalf of the University of Arizona.

NPTAO provides training and consultation for students, faculty and staff who have an interest in participating in research or institutional engagement with Arizona’s Native nations.

NPTAO is also a key liaison providing technical assistance and resource identification on the request of tribal communities, predominantly in Arizona. For a sample of some of our technical assistance projects see our initiatives below.


Message from the Director

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Claudia Nelson headshot

Claudia Nelson, NPTAO Director

Greetings and welcome to the Native American Advancement, Initiatives, and Research web portal, the home of the Native Peoples Technical Assistance Office web resources NPTAO is honored to collaborate and share this site with the office of the Senior Vice President for Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement and the office of the Vice Provost for Native American Initiatives, who share a vision of providing easily navigable, comprehensive, relevant, and current information for the University of Arizona community when engaging with sovereign Native nations and Indigenous communities.


Initiatives

The Native Peoples Design Coalition, housed under the Drachman Institute in the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture, forms a collective vision to plan and design the built environment in ways that support Native American and Indigenous sovereignty.

Read more

As part of a grant funded by the Economic Development Administration's University Center - Native FORGE Program, NPTAO has collected detailed 2017-2021 American Community Survey Census data, detailed business data from the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), and health reports from Arizona's First Things First program for all 22 Federally Recognized tribes in Arizona. The data is located here.

NPTAO participates in bi-annual trainings for the university community that provide an introduction to policies, resources, and best practices for UArizona researchers interested in conducting collaborative research and/or educational engagement with Native Nations/Indigenous communities. You will find dates for upcoming trainings here

Contact Information

Claudia Nelson headshot

Claudia Nelson

Director, Native Peoples Technical Assistance Office

cen@arizona.edu

Kelly Smith

Kelly Smith

Research Associate, Native Peoples Technical Assistance Office; Assessment Coordinator, School of Landscape Architecture & Planning
 
 
Alison M. Meadow

Alison M. Meadow

Associate Research Professor

meadow@arizona.edu