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indigenousfutureswhitebckgd.pngBeginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, and for the next decade, our theme is Indigenous Futures: 100 Years Back, 100 Years Forward. It has been 100 years since the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act was passed. CNAIR sees this historic moment as an opportunity for engagement and reflection on the past 100 years and to imagine forward for the next 100 years. Apply for a co-sponsorship here!

We're N this togetherWe're N this together

Center for Native American and Indigenous Research

Artists and Elders in Residence

 

Fern Renville (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) and Roger Fernandes (Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe)

Join us to harvest, create, listen, and heal with these two talented Indigenous master storytellers and artists during CNAIR’s AY25 Artist & Elder-in-Residence!

Learn More and RSVP Here

First Year Student Information

 

Learn about the NAIS Minor!

Are you a first-year student or a transfer student? Learn more about our Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) minor. 

First Year Focus Page

Recent News

 

Read about our recent news!

Strong Manoomin Collective Feature

Manoomin Gii-Nitaawaigiyaan Makak, Sensor for Manoomin

By Bay Paulsen, Staff Writer, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission

The Strong Manoomin Collective was featured in the Great Lake Fish and Wildlife Commission quarterly magazine, Mazina'igan - A Chronicle of the Lake Superior Ojibwe

CNAIR News

Graduate Students Receive Dissertation Fellowship

Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy graduate students Forrest Bruce (Ojibwe) and Karla Thomas have received highly competitive NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowships to support their research and career development.
CNAIR News

Dakhóta Language Scholars Win Ramsey County Historical Society’s 2024 Virginia B. Kunz Award

Ramsey County Historical Society (RCHS) recently presented seven Dakhóta-language scholars with the Virginia B. Kunz Award for their article, “Dakhóta Iápi: A Brief History in Three Parts .” CNAIR Fellow and NU History PhD candidate, Heather Menefee was part of this team of University of Minnesota students and researchers. 

 

CNAIR News

Project Highlights

 

Strengthening Resilience of Manoomin

A Northwestern University-led research team has received a $5 million grant from NSF to develop new methods to help mitigate the effects of climate change on the Great Lakes and its surrounding natural ecosystems." This project began with relationship building and a willingness by Northwestern researchers to step back and invite our Indigenous partners to frame the research,” said Patty Loew (Mashkiiziibii-Bad River Ojibwe, CNAIR Inaugural Director). ..“The result is a project that is both meaningful and respectful to our tribal collaborators.” 

Read about the project and new Great Lakes region CoPe Hub

Tribal Constitutions

Northwestern CNAIR Affiliates and Professor of Law Erin Delaney and Northwestern Assistant Professor of Sociology Beth Red Bird work together on The Tribal Constitutions Project. Delaney and Redbird started the Constitutions Project in order to examine the evolution of tribal sovereignty through over 2000 tribal constitutions from over 300 tribal nations from the last 150 years. 

Read about the Tribal Constitutions Project

Learning In Places

Despite the growing awareness of socio-ecological challenges facing humans in the 21st century, science learning still mostly takes place inside the classroom, disconnected from the natural world. The University of Washington Bothell Goodlad Institute for Educational Renewal, Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy, Tilth Alliance and Seattle Public Schools are partnering to change this status quo and create more culturally and community relevant, field-based learning opportunities for students. 

Visit the Learning In Places Website

Events and News

 

Annual Reports

 
Read the 2023-24 Annual Report

Read Our Annual Report

Events

 

More Events

News

 
Manoomin gii-nitaawigiyaan Makak, sensor for manoomin
Graduate Students Receive Dissertation Fellowships
Dakhóta Language Scholars Win Ramsey County Historical Society’s 2024 Virginia B. Kunz Award
Six Northwestern faculty elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

More News