External Collaborations, Partnerships & Support

Language work is both tremendously valuable, but often quite labored. Documentation work is hard, it can be slow, and it is resource intensive—sometimes in surprising ways. Language projects can sometimes raise difficult political, emotional, and social issues that weren’t expected. Documentation work is also very different in each and every context in which they occur and this can sometimes feel isolating.

Even though your project will be unique, finding community can help ease the burden, find common ground, learn ways that others have solved problems or gotten through difficulties. In our experience, language workers already know how important it is to work in community with allies. AIHEC is just one of many organizations who can help you find community with others who you might not have known about other ways.

When looking for community, it’s important to look for others who are already familiar with, or who are willing to learn, some basic guidelines for undertaking collaborative language work. Scholars in this area have established several useful rubrics you can use to think about, and discuss these guidelines.

In language work, the concept of data sovereignty is of crucial importance – so keep this in mind when looking for or reaching out to potential collaborators or partners. Refer back to Module 2 and the discussion of data sovereignty and the CARE principles. Work with others who align themselves to these principles.

Keep in mind as well that data sovereignty principles, based in the ‘CARE’ rubric can be applied proactively to the materials collected, stored and shared in language documentation projects. Those materials must be stored, shared, and used for the collective benefit of the relevant individuals and communities, under the authority and control of the appropriate Tribal, governmental, and community actors, in a way that is responsible in recognizing community rights to the materials involved, and with constant attention to maintaining ethical practices and procedures.

Another approach to collaborations is working with those who understand what is sometimes called the ‘R’ Principles.

When looking for community, it’s important to look for others who are already familiar with some basic guidelines for undertaking collaborative language work. Scholars in this area have established several useful rubrics you can use to think about, and discuss these guidelines. We’ve collected the ‘several Rs’ from work by Indigenous scholars focused on guidelines for community-based collaborative work. Indigenous leaders and language workers have been advocating for and supporting frameworks for collaborative research and data sovereignty that revolve around key concept such as those listed here.

Different researchers have emphasized a different number of ‘R’s, so we’ve collected seven commonly used principles for you to consider. These are the several ‘R’s of collaborative, community-based work.

Below are some additional helpful resources that may be helpful.

See also the handout from Module 1 with resources for helpful organizations. You can also refer to the Data Sovereignty handout from Module 2 for more resources.