By CHARLES CLARK
Choctaw Nation
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Institutional Review Board (CNO IRB) is one of only four such organizations in the state that belongs to a tribal nation. IRBs are federally-recognized boards with a duty to protect people who are subjects in research studies. The board has authority to approve, deny, or require changes to research that effects tribal members, clients, or Choctaw tribal heritage. One key factor is guarding the tribe from dissemination of inaccurate information or defaming results based on work by outside researchers.
Members of the CNO IRB are appointed by the Chief and come from across the Nation’s 10 1/2-county service area. Two new members, Carolyn Elgin (Talihina) and Chantelle Standefer (Durant), were recently appointed by Chief Gary Batton and welcomed in a ceremony on Jan. 20 at the Kiamichi Technology Center, Talihina. Other board members were recognized for their longstanding service to the Choctaw IRB.
Bob Ludlow (Smithville), who opened and closed the meeting with prayer, was presented a 5-year award for his service. Sandra Reavis and John Jones, (both of Stigler) accepted charter members awards and 10-year service awards. David Wharton (Broken Bow), charter member and Scientific Co-chair, offered historical comments about the CNO IRB. Wharton noted that in 2002, Chief Batton, who was then the Executive Director for Health, proposed the idea of the Nation developing its own IRB. Within two years, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma had its own federally-recognized IRB, becoming only the third tribe in the state able to accomplish that goal. “Chief Batton saw the need and made it happen,” Wharton said.
Additional honorees at the ceremony included, Sylvester Moore (Talihina), charter member and Community Co-Chair of the CNO IRB, who received awards as a charter member and for his 10 years of service. “He’s been here since the beginning,” Wharton said of Moore. The final charter member recognized for his 10 years of service was Dr. Ed Work (Hugo). The remaining two members were recognized for their 5 years of service to the CNO IRB - Joe Bray (Wilburton) and Dr. Marie Cole (Talihina).
The CNO IRB Institutional Officer is Teresa Jackson, Choctaw Nation Senior Executive Officer for Health, and the Administrative Director is Dannielle Branam. Researchers must apply to the IRB office before beginning their investigations and inquiries. Once the board approves, work begins, and periodic reports are made to the IRB. Then a final presentation of results must be approved by the IRB before the information can be officially released. While its origins were in health because research requests were first received for medical studies, the Choctaw IRB has jurisdiction for the entire tribe and has reviewed cultural, language, housing, and other research projects. Its workload continues to grow with ongoing research interest and the growth of Choctaw Nation.