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Indigenous Futures: A ten-year era for the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research

For the 2023-24 academic year, our theme is Indigenous Futures: A ten-year era for the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research. 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. We are at the beginning of a new era of reform in Indian country in which citizenship, belonging, culture, language, law, policy, and much more will be remade given the significant social, political, ecological, and economic challenges that all communities face in the coming century.  Over the next decade, we aim to create collective engagement with the many layers and dynamics that are implicated both by the historical conditions that have created the present and what is critical in exercising self-determination over the next 100 years. CNAIR will focus this year’s programming on exploring this theme...Apply for a cosponsorship! Requests for cosponsorship should align with the theme and mission of CNAIR.

We're N this togetherWe're N this together

Center for Native American and Indigenous Research

Current Opportunities

 

Apply for funding or engage with programming!

Apply for a CNAIR Fellowship!

CNAIR  fellows are advancing research and scholarship for their particular disciplines, which also impact Native American and Indigenous communities around the globe.  Their work emphasizes Indigenous methodologies and has impacts on public policy, education, and law.  The following funding opportunities are available:

  • Faculty Fellowships for supported leave, research support, curriculum enrichment, and research assistant support 
  • Graduate Fellowships for 1-3 quarters of tuition/stipend support and additional research stipend 
  • Undergraduate Fellowships for 1-4 quarters of support (academic year and/or summer funding) Apply to a fellowship today!
Apply for a Fellowship

30 Days of Indigenous

For Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month 2023, Northwestern is celebrating with 30 Days of Indigenous, a month-long series of programming, educational offerings and invitations to deepen engagement and learning. Each day includes invitations to celebrate, learn, advocate, and engage with the diverse and complex cultures, knowledges, traditions, and lived experiences of Native American and Indigenous Peoples. Come to an event listed on the 30 Days of Indigenous website or, on days when there isn't an event, visit the website for a curation of self-guided opportunities to learn more about Indigenous Peoples! This initiative is led and sponsored by Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) and the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI). 

30 Days of Indigenous sponsored by MSA and OIDI

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

CNAIR Community

 

Events and News

 

Annual Reports

 
Read the 2022-23 Annual Report

Read Our Annual Report

Events

 

More Events

News

 
CNAIR Fellow Heather Menefee (History PhD candidate) has won the Presidential Fellowship
Indigenous community members release birch bark boat into Lake Michigan
The lessons a canoe can teach about Indigenous history and culture
Artist in Residence Noelle Garcia uses art to explore Indigenous identity, family history and recovered narrative
Stories are still being written at NAISA's second annual Pow Wow

More News