Beginning 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 
2025 Events
Learn more about upcoming events!
7th Annual Research Symposium
CHELSEA BIGHORN EXHIBIT
Current Funding Opportunities
Apply for CNAIR funding by 2/28/2025!
CNAIR has a number of funding opportunities available that you can learn more about on our opportunities page! Here are direct links to some funding opportunities
- Tribal Nations & Indigenous Community Research Funding for up to $10,000
- Graduate Research Fellowship for 1 quarter of support
- Undergraduate Research Fellowship
- Staff Research Fellowship
- NAIS Conference Travel Funds - for NAIS undergradaute students
- Faculty Course Enhancement Funds for Summer Salary/Funds
- Faculty Research Funding Fellowship for Summer Salary/Funds
- Faculty Fellowship for 1 Course Release
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Events and News
Annual Reports
Read the 2023-24 Annual Report
Events
Mar
6
2025
NAIS Guest Speaker Dylan Robinson
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Evanston
We are very excited to remind you of our Winter Quarter invited guest speaker, xwélmexw professor DYLAN ROBINSON, coming to campus on ...
Apr
10
2025
7th Annual Center for Native American and Indigenous Research Spr...
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, No Location
7th Annual Center for Native American and Indigenous Research Spring Symposium.
Apr
11
2025
7th Annual Center for Native American and Indigenous Research Spr...
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, No Location
7th Annual Center for Native American and Indigenous Research Spring Symposium.