A skills training approach provides a conceptual framework from which human services can be provided for the personal and emotional needs of Indian people without the subtle, culturally erosive effect of traditional psychotherapy. Some 30 tribal groups and agencies participated in a cultural adaptation of an assertive coping-skills training intervention program for a year. The general themes of coping, self-determination, and communication were reflected in the ultimate program goal, which was competence in a biculturally appropriate lifestyle. Program goals emerged from discussions among community members. Formal and informal modeling provided a variety of Indian coping models enacting appropriate assertive behavior in several Indian and non-Indian social, family, and business settings. Indian and non-Indian persons rated 24 pre-training and 24 post-training role play scenes by 6 participants to determine whether relevant and noticeable change had taken place. Results indicated that the cultural adaptation of social skills training appeared to be more effective for American Indians than traditional psychological approaches. (CM)