Substance use disorder (SUD) care in tribal communities presents unique challenges and opportunities that are not well understood among many clinicians and researchers in academic settings. Building strong, lasting partnerships between academic and tribal healthcare professionals can foster trust and enable the exchange of powerful knowledge to enhance SUD care and advance SUD research. In this seminar, partners from the University of Utah and Utah Navajo Health System will discuss a journey of cultural discovery and research application that has laid the foundation for a burgeoning research program in a tribal healthcare system.