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Click here to hear this greeting in Chinuk Wawa, the intertribal universal language of the Pacific Northwest

 

 

 

 

 

What is Native American and Indigenous Studies?

Native American and Indigenous Studies is an interdisciplinary field that uses multiple approaches from history, anthropology, law, literature, ethnic studies, and other disciplines to understand Native American history, culture, politics, and contemporary lives. NAIS highlights the unique place of tribes in the state-tribal-federal intergovernmental matrix and the myriad of distinct issues Native peoples of the United States face, from language and cultural protection to environmental issues to economic development and beyond.

Why Native American and Indigenous Studies?

Students in Native American and Indigenous Studies will join a diverse, tightly knit community of scholars who cherish our connections with Native communities and strive to make our work valuable for the project of building up Native nations. Most Americans are vaguely aware of tribal governments and even fewer have thought about what limited forms of tribal sovereignty say about American democratic ideals. Through our research, classes, programming, and activism, we aim to change this. In a state with nine federally recognized indigenous nations and with a Native American population 50% higher proportionally than the national average, this knowledge is crucial for future leaders in all fields.

What Will I Learn & Where Can I Go?
UO NAIS affords students extensive grounding in Indigenous history and culture as well as nuanced understanding of tribal sovereignty, Indigenous nationhood, settler colonialism, and the diversity and beauty of contemporary Indigenous lives and experiences. Such work prepares students for a variety of postsecondary opportunities ranging from government, law, research, and education; to nonprofit and public interest work, environmental and resource management, and business and economic development; to the arts, journalism, communication, new media, and beyond.

 

Major Requirements

The NAIS interdisciplinary major has two tracks: a conventional track and a language track. Both tracks require a minimum of 56 credits, at least 28 of which must be taken in residence at the UO, the same core coursework and distribution requirements, and 1 year of Indigenous language instruction. The language track includes a 2nd year of Indigenous language instruction.

Core courses for the NAIS major include: ES 256: Intro to Native American Studies, ES 321: Indigenous Peoples of Oregon, ES 468: NAIS Research Methods and Ethics, and ES 470: Native American and Indigenous Feminsims

All courses counting toward the major must be taken for letter grades and completed with grades of C or higher. 

At least one upper-division course must be taken from Group 3: Literature, Media, and the Arts. 

 

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Minor Requirements

The Native American and Indigenous Studies minor compliments numerous other fields of study and provides access to ways of knowing and living that are part of the heritage and future of this state, and this nation.  

The interdisciplinary minor requires a minimum of 28 credits, with at least 16 of those being upper-division credits. All courses counting toward the minor must be taken for letter grades and completed with grades of C or higher.

Students must fulfill distribution requirements, taking at least one class each from the following groups:

Group I: Culture, Language, and Education
Group II: Law, Policy, Governance, and History
Group III: Literature, Media, and the Arts

 

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NAIS Minor
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Native American and Indigenous Studies Advisory Council
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Meet Our Advisors

Native students

 

Resources and Programs for
Native Students

 

NAIS Academic Partners
and Units

Native students

 

Territorial Acknowledgment

The University of Oregon is located on Kalapuya ilihi, the traditional indigenous homeland of the Kalapuya people. Following treaties between 1851 and 1855, Kalapuya people were dispossessed of their indigenous homeland by the United States government and forcibly removed to the Coast Reservation in Western Oregon. Today, Kalapuya descendants are primarily citizens of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and they continue to make important contributions to their communities, to the UO, to Oregon, and to the world.

In following the Indigenous protocol of acknowledging the original people of the land we occupy, we also extend our respect to the nine federally recognized Indigenous nations of Oregon: the Burns Paiute Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and the Klamath Tribes. We express our respect to the many more tribes who have ancestral connections to this territory, as well as to all other displaced Indigenous peoples who call Oregon home. Hayu masi.

 

Events

 

NAS Focus Group
January 23-27, Many Nations Longhouse

Native American Focus Group: “Perceptions of University Counseling Services Among Native College Students.” Organized by NAIS ARC Alum and NAIS minor, Jorney Baldwin. 

Are you interested in participating in a focus group study exploring the perceptions of counseling center services among Native American Students? If so, click here or scan the QR code in the image below. Participants receive a $25 gift card.
NAIS Research Colloquium: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 3-4:30pm, Many Nations Longhouse
January 31, 3:00-4:30 pm, Many Nations Longhouse
NAIS Research Colloquium: “Elakha Alliance Tribal Youth Internship Overview: Creating A Cultural Traveling Display,” with Kaitlynn Spino, third-year Marine Biology major, NAIS minor, and NAIS ARC alum. 
Robin Wall Kimmerer
January 31, 6:00 pm, Zoom (virtual lecture)
Intercampus conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer (Potawatomi) hosted by Washington State University and the University of Oregon. Dr. Kimmerer's book, Braiding Sweetgrass, is the common reading for both schools for AY 2022-23. Join the lecture at https://commonreading.wsu.edu/ or scan the QR code in the image to the left. 
Ryan Reed (Karuk)
February 1, 6:00-7:00 pm, Many Nations Longhouse

"Indigeneity and Fire with Ryan Reed"

Join us for our third event in the Environmental Justice speaker series with Ryan Reed (Karuk, Hupa and Yurok), wildland firefighter, Indigenous Fire Practitioner, and Executive Director for FireGeneration Collaborative. Register: https://oregon.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cz0kxdcAWi3pNI

Longhouse Culture and Community Nights: Winter Schedule
February 2, 5:30-7:00 pm, Many Nations Longhouse
Culture/Community Night. All are welcome. Potluck Dinner will be served. NASU meeting held concurrently.
Environmental Futures Poster_Hunter & Moulton
February 7, 12:00-1:30 pm, Virtual Conversation

"Environmental Futures: Indigenous, Immigrant, and Rural Imaginings."

Join us for a virtual public conversation with Dr. Yesenia Hunter and Holly Moulton on Tuesday, February 7, from 12-1:30 pm PT. JFI pre-doctoral and post-doctoral scholars will share how they work toward supporting just futures for Indigenous, immigrant, and rural populations.RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/jfiworkinprogress

Photo: Katherine Paul, Black Eagle Scout
February 11, 8pm, Soreng Theatre (Hult Center)
10x10 Series: “Black Belt Eagle Scout” with Katherine Paul
Longhouse Culture and Community Nights: Winter Schedule
February 16, 5:30-7:00 pm, Many Nations Longhouse
Culture/Community Night. All are welcome. Potluck Dinner will be served. NASU meeting held concurrently.
Photo: Miigis Underwater Panther, Red Sky Performance Group
February 24-25, 8:00 pm, Hult Center for Performing Arts

MIIGIS Underwater Panther by Red Sky Performance Company

The Miigis saga reveals the power of nature and Indigenous prophecy through contemporary Indigenous dance, theatrical innovation, and a fusion of athleticism, music, and film: https://hultcenter.org/events/red-sky-performance/
Longhouse
March 1, 5:30-8:00 pm, Many Nations Longhouse
Winter storytelling event. Details TBD.
Longhouse Crop
March 3, 5:30-7:30 pm, Many Nations Longhouse
The Indigenous People’s Reception (IPR) is a signature event at the annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) that brings together Indigenous community members to build relationship and gather energy around environmental law and related issues. This year, we are again partnering with CaddoWoman Catering, a business owned and operated by Tamarro Gabbert (Paiute), to provide a delicious meal for attendees.
Native PRIDE Awards: Save the Date Infographic
March 16, 5:00-7:00 pm, Many Nations Longhouse

Native PRIDE Awards & Culture/Community Night!

Proudly Recognizing Indigenous Devotion to Education Awards celebrates the outstanding work being done by our Native students, faculty, staff, community members, and allies both on and off campus as we work collectively to empower our students on their educational journeys. The Qualtrics is now open for nominations. Deadline for nominations is February 28th by 5pm.

Jen Rose Smith, U of Wisconsin-Madison
SAVE THE DATE: May 2, Many Nations Longhouse (Time TBD)
Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples Lecture, with Jen Rose Smith, dAXunhyuu (Eyak, Alaska Native) geographer at the Univ of Wisconsin, Madison. 
Longhouse
June 12-Aug. 4, UO Campus

UO Linguistics Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

The University of Oregon (UO) Linguistics REU site is an 8-week, fully funded summer program designed for American Indian/Alaska Native students. At this site, students gain research experience in two research areas Linguistics: Experimental Linguistics and Descriptive Linguistics. This program is also designed to provide an introduction to STEM and higher education more broadly. The dates of the 2023 REU program will be June 12 – August 4, 2023. Deadline to apply is January 5, 2023.

camas
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, June 18, Many Nations Longhouse (details TBD)
Native American and Indigenous Graduation, 2023

 

NEWS

 

Photo: Lana Lopesi and her book Bloody Woman
NAIS and IRES faculty, Lana Lopesi, Named Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Dr. Lopesi was honored for her extraordinary contributions to New Zealand arts and culture. Congratulations, Lana! Click here and here to read the full story.