Final answer:
Tribe members understood that they retained ultimate ownership of research material and had the power to control the publication and use of it, consistent with intellectual property rights and IRB policies. They expected ethical researchers to work in partnership with them, respecting their rights and ensuring no adverse effects from the research.
Step-by-step explanation:
The members of the tribe who agreed to participate in contemporary anthropological research had the understanding that the ownership of the material collected would ultimately belong to them, as they are the culture-bearers of the information provided. This is a response to criticisms of past practices where tribes did not benefit from the research undertaken about them. For instance, in the case of the Chinuk Wawa Dictionary Project, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon are credited as authors, whereas Henry Zenk is the compiler. The tribal community has control over what is published and any further projects developed from the findings.
Concerns have been raised regarding the use of ethnographic research, especially in cases where it was used for the benefit of the researchers without adequate compensation or benefits directed to the tribe. Members of the tribe have rights regarding participation and can choose to have their data removed. Furthermore, agreements and treaties with researchers should reflect these concerns and allow tribes to freely determine their level of participation and degree of anonymity.
Ultimately, the tribes understood that their consent was critical and that ethical researchers would work in partnership with them, respecting their rights and ensuring that any findings shared would not adversely affect them, in line with IRB (Institutional Review Board) policies and ethical standards of research.