Skip to main content
NORC at the University Chicago
NORC conducts research in partnership with Tribal Nations, Indigenous organizations, and federal agencies to promote health and well-being among American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities.

There are currently 574 federally recognized Tribes in the United States, each with distinct cultures, governance structures, assets, challenges, and priorities. Indigenous populations experience higher rates of chronic disease, worse mental health outcomes, barriers to accessing care, and higher poverty rates. 

Tribal communities are uniquely positioned to address these challenges by drawing upon their traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and enduring resilience, offering holistic and community-centered approaches to wellness, healing, and justice.

For decades, NORC has worked closely with Tribal partner organizations and directly with Tribal Nations to understand challenges and explore solutions, through our Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, the Center on Public Safety & Justice, and our many subject matter experts.

Get in Touch

Have a project in mind? Fill out our quick start form to get a quote.

Start a Project

Tags

Discover Our Work

Our approach to Tribal research is grounded in respect for Tribal sovereignty, cultural traditions, and ethical engagement. 

Responsive & Relevant

We prioritize community-driven methods, mixed-methods research, and evaluation strategies that reflect Tribal values and respond to Tribal priorities. Our work is designed to produce actionable insights that support Tribal self-determination and improve outcomes in Tribal communities. 

NORC’s Tribal Research portfolio spans a wide range of topic areas, including:

  • Tribal Public Health
  • Behavioral Health & Suicide Prevention
  • Water Safety
  • Child Welfare & Family Services
  • Health Workforce Development
  • Food Security & Nutrition
  • Housing & Infrastructure
  • Early Childhood & Disability Services
  • Tribal Justice Systems
  • Native Arts & Culture

Highlighted Projects

Housing Needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives & Native Hawaiians

Conducting a landmark study of housing needs in tribal areas to inform policy

Client:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Study of Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

Collecting new data for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations for the first time in 20 years

Funder:

U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service

ND THRIVES: North Dakota Rural and Tribal Suicide Care Initiative

Implementing community-based suicide prevention program for youth in north-central and northeastern North Dakota

Funder:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Photo of mesas in Western U.S.

Tribal Justice Data Hub

The Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 (TLOA; P.L. 111-211, 124 Stat. 2258 § 251(b)) states that the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) establishes and implements data collection systems to collect data and conduct analysis of crimes committed on federally recognized reservations, in tribal communities, and on identified trust lands. Therefore, BJS and NORC at the University of Chicago, in collaboration with our partners—the National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA), the Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and the IACP Indian Country Law Enforcement Section—developed the CTLEA and the CTCS to fulfill these requirements. These are data collection programs that study the administration and operational features of these agencies and their programs in the U.S.

View the Tribal Justice Data Hub.

More Tribal Research Projects

Our Experts