As the Native Communities Learning Project: We Are Still Here series continued to move from reflection toward action, this session focused on how communication and collaboration could either strengthen or undermine relationships with Native Nations and communities. Building on prior conversations about power, history, and cultural humility, this webinar centered on the practical skills and approaches needed to engage in respectful, effective cross-cultural partnerships.
Participants joined us for Communication and Collaboration: Cross-Cultural Communication, Protocol, and Consensus-Building on Wednesday, May 27, at 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT.
In this session, participants explored how communication is shaped by culture, history, and relationship, and why standard approaches to engagement may fall short in Native contexts. Participants learned about the importance of Tribal protocols, relationship-building practices, and honoring community-defined decision-making processes. The session also examined approaches to consensus-building that prioritized listening, trust, and collective voice, rather than urgency or institutional timelines.
Together, participants reflected on how to move from transactional interactions toward relational collaboration—where communication is grounded in respect, accountability, and a long-term commitment to partnership. The session highlighted how slowing down, listening deeply, and following the community’s lead could create more meaningful and sustainable outcomes in early childhood systems work.
Participants left with practical strategies for cross-cultural communication, a deeper understanding of protocol and relational accountability, and tools to support collaborative processes that centered Native voice and leadership.
This webinar was the sixth session in the Alliance’s eight-part Native Communities Learning Project: We Are Still Here series.