The constructs used to evaluate research quality--valid, objective, reliable, generalizable, randomized, accurate, authentic--are not value-free. They all require human judgment, which is affected inevitably by cultural norms and values. In the case of research involving American Indians and Alaska Natives, assessments of research quality must be based both on Western notions of scientific quality and on separate criteria prescribed in the interests of sovereignty. This digest addresses these issues as researchers take on the challenges set forth by the American Indian and Alaska Native Education Research Agenda, which was mandated by Executive Order. Various terms concerning accuracy, reliability, and validity are defined. Then, critical questions related to sovereignty and self-determination are posed, including the reasons for doing the research, researchers' motivations, who sets research goals, who has the disciplinary authority to do the research, who is involved in the research project, who is served by the research, what benefits accrue to the local community, whether the involvement of tribal members in research design and methodology guarantees research quality and authenticity, and whether Native researchers should be the only ones to do Native research. The politics of research and the importance of fulfilling the promise embedded in the Research Agenda are discussed. (Contains 31 references.) (SV)