Our Center’s mission is to cultivate health and wellness in Indigenous communities by reconnecting with Indigenous traditions and knowledge and using research for change.
The Center builds upon and extends the mission of Oklahoma State University (OSU) to improve the health of Oklahoma’s most underserved populations. The Center’s efforts are focused in three primary areas:
Reconnection

- The recognition and strengthening of Indigenous knowledge and practices that foster wellness
Education

The provision of pipeline programs that are culturally-grounded and scientifically rigorous to develop the next generation of health sciences professionals who work with Indigenous communities
Training

- The development of cross-cultural and equitable learning opportunities that bring university and community partners together to address training needs within both settings to foster long-term, collaborative and co-learning relationships between Indigenous Nations and OSU

Community-Based Participatory Research
CIHRP projects are driven by the principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), which is “an approach that equitably involves all partners in the research process” (Minkler and Wallerstein, 2003).
CBPR begins with a research topic of importance to the community with the aim of combining knowledge and action for social change to improve community health and eliminate health disparities.


Community-Based Participatory Research
CIHRP projects are driven by the principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), which is “an approach that equitably involves all partners in the research process” (Minkler and Wallerstein, 2003).
CBPR begins with a research topic of importance to the community with the aim of combining knowledge and action for social change to improve community health and eliminate health disparities.
