Many Native Americans are reluctant to work with researchers who have not demonstrated a sense of obligation to their community. Research that has proven to be valuable has trained American Indians to collect data, incorporated participatory research methods, and supplemented quantitative data collection with qualitative research. The tension between science and advocacy results from the different goals involved. A researcher must publish or perish, thereby forfeiting opportunities for advocacy. Those who choose advocacy end up filing and forgetting their manuscripts. Most funding for Native American research comes from the federal government, whose funding criteria must be met. Indians often fail to submit compelling proposals for competitive funding. They need assistance with needs assessment, research design, and evaluation. The federal government focuses on accountability, and tribes may tend to fall behind in their program evaluation. Evaluation needs to be done from an Indian perspective, so Indians need training in conducting evaluations. Sampling is a problem because few tribes collect data. If research is going to include Native American samples, then the design must include some additional costs. Tribes need to be involved in data interpretation to ensure its validity. Cultural competence needs to be reconsidered as a bicultural perspective that accurately reflects reality. To encourage Native Americans to respond positively to research proposals, they must be equal partners. All relevant federal agencies should be brought into these discussions on Indian research issues. (TD)