In 1985 he founded and became the director of the American Indian Studies Research Institute at Indiana University Bloomington, alongside Douglas Parks, whom he worked collaboratively throughout majority of his career to preserve and translate various Indigenous languages, after having first met in 1980.
In 1985 he established and took on the role of chief at the American Indian Studies Research Institute at Indiana University Bloomington, alongside Douglas Parks, whom he collaborated with extensively throughout most of his career to safeguard and interpret various Indigenous languages, after initially meeting in 1980.