Though there is room for improving relations between the native and nonnative people in Lawrence, New York-based artist Ping Chong said he was encouraged by efforts here to foster better communication.

During an online chat Thursday at the News Center, Chong called this weekend’s Bert Nash Building a Better Community Summit a step in the right direction.

Chong’s production, “Native Voices — Secret History,” based on the lives of five American Indians living in Lawrence, will be staged Thursday through Saturday at the Lied Center in conjunction with the summit.

Responding to a question from the moderator, Chong said he hadn’t necessarily learned things about the native community that surprised him.

“I am more struck by the common humanity of the issues within the Native American community, as well as its relationship to the outside world, for example, discrimination within the culture itself based on skin color, a deep distrust of motives of the white community — this is quite common in many minority communities because of their histories of discrimination in this country,” he said.

“As for what I have learned, native nations are still plagued by a dysfunctional Bureau of Indian Affairs and the whims of Congress in relation to their economic needs.”

Chong also was asked whether “Native Voices” would be taken to a wider audience.

“There is every hope that this production will have a life after this week,” he said. “The Lied Center is looking into touring the production as part of its statewide outreach project. There are no specific plans at this time.”

You can read the full transcript of Chong’s chat online at www.ljworld.com/section/arts.