Native/Indigenous Feminisms are key to understanding settler colonial societies like the United States and Canada. As a field of study, Native/Indigenous Feminisms analytically centers Indigenous sovereignty to understand how settler colonialism evolved to displace Indigenous peoples politically and within their own lands. This course will examine the historical formation and dynamics of settler colonialism to elucidate how it has shaped the lives of all people living within settler societies. Academics at CNAIR
Posoh, Boozhoo, Yá'át'ééh, ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ,
We are glad you are here. Whether virtual or in person (soon!) we look forward to meeting you. On this page you will find information and links to academic opportunities for graduate students, undergraduate students, and the NAIS Minor.
2025 Course Highlights
Native/Indigenous Feminisms are key to understanding settler colonial societies like the United States and Canada. As a field of study, Native/Indigenous Feminisms analytically centers Indigenous sovereignty to understand how settler colonialism evolved to displace Indigenous peoples politically and within their own lands. This course will examine the historical formation and dynamics of settler colonialism to elucidate how it has shaped the lives of all people living within settler societies. 
The racialization of Indigenous polities in North America has been a key mechanism for undermining Indigenous sovereignty and facilitating settler colonialism. In analytically foregrounding Indigenous sovereignty, this course examines how race has been imposed upon Indigenous peoples and nations so settlers could dispossess them of their lands and their political authority over those lands. Through this course, we will consider how US anthropology contributed to the development of the notion of indigeneity-as-race in North America, the function of Indigenous racialization, and how Indigenous communities have grappled with their racialization throughout time and into the present. Native American and Indigenous Studies
Undergraduate NAIS Minor
The Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) minor is a program designed for students who are eager to engage with the priorities, histories, lifeways, and artistic or cultural practices related to Native American and Indigenous communities. The curriculum, firmly rooted in Indigenous methodologies, ethics, and theoretical perspectives, builds upon the contributions of key NAIS scholars. This interdisciplinary minor necessitates the completion of six courses that highlight the social and natural worlds, creative expression, and global Indigeneity. Through disciplines such as history, anthropology, literature, global health, learning sciences, and environmental studies, the program fosters a comprehensive understanding of Indigenous identities, underlining their political dynamics, cultural innovations, and global interconnectedness.
Key topics like sovereignty, self-determination, and resistance are integral components of the coursework. This emphasis on Indigenous epistemologies enhances students' understanding of their pivotal roles in societal formation, both within and beyond U.S. borders.
The NAIS minor not only sharpens investigative, analytical, and critical skills but also fuels intellectual creativity, empowering students to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. It readies them for a diverse array of careers in law, education, social work, health, or public policy, while enriching their insight into the complex issues Indigenous communities encounter.
For any questions or inquiries, the director of the minor can be reached through the contact information available on the NAIS Minor webpage