Building Trust in Practice: Tribal Engagement Through Real-World Case Studies
This interactive workshop will guide participants through effective and respectful approaches to tribal community engagement, drawing on real case studies from ongoing work with American Indian communities across North Carolina. Led by staff from the UNC American Indian Center and partners working in tribal health settings, the session will highlight strategies that build trust, honor sovereignty, and support sustainable health outcomes. Using examples from projects such as the Healthy Native North Carolinians Network (HNNC), the Southeastern American Indian Cancer Health Equity Partnership (SAICEP), and the new pilot initiative to strengthen tribal health infrastructure in the state, facilitators will demonstrate what meaningful engagement looks like in practice. The workshop will also address common challenges encountered in cross-cultural public health work, including navigating historical contexts, aligning institutional goals with community priorities, and supporting Indigenous leadership. Attendees will leave with practical tools, relationship-building techniques, and a deeper understanding of how universities and organizations can partner ethically and effectively with tribal nations. By centering lived experience and real-world examples, this workshop invites participants to reflect, learn, and strengthen their own approaches to community-engaged work with American Indian communities.
Presenters:
- Ryan Dial, American Indian Health, Program Manager
- Danielle Hiraldo, PhD, Director, UNC American Indian Center
- Ronny Bell, PhD, MS, Fred Eshelman Distinguished Professor and Chair, Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, Eshelman School of Pharmacy | Deputy Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Location: UNC American Indian Center, Conference Room