EDUCATING:
Our mission is to advance “knowledge and understanding of American Indian communities and issues important to them.” We endeavor to do this by incorporating four Rs—rigor, reliability, respect, and relevance—into all aspects of fulfilling our mission. CAIRNS offers a number of venues for educating about American Indians, their histories, cultures and communities. We also create educational resources and develop innovative projects that promote those goals. EVALUATING:
Conventional evaluation emphasizes the measurement of quantitative data and the use of qualitative data to provide a narrative in places where the hard numbers are unable to measure. Traditional Native evaluation emphasizes qualitative approaches, telling the unique stories of the people and using quantitative data to support the narratives. In order to provide the best evaluation for Native communities, project stakeholders and community members need to participate in the evaluation design and process, thereby making the evaluation part of the project instead of appearing as an audit by an outside entity. CAIRNS believes that the evaluation of projects that provide services to Native communities should include four dimensions—spatial, social, spiritual and experiential—that conceptually define traditional Native communities. Because these four dimensions are grounded in the traditions of a community, they resonate from long ago through today and into the future. RESEARCHING:
Research is the foundation for all CAIRNS initiatives. With regard to the educational orientation of its initiatives, CAIRNS incorporates four Rs: rigor, reliability, respect and relevance. Below, explore some of the CAIRNS research topics, current research questions, and sources of reliable information.
