Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative

Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative

Brown University's Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative (NAISI) is a cross-disciplinary initiative focused on teaching, research, and engagement to increase understanding of the cultural traditions, histories, political experiences, and contemporary experiences and knowledges of Native American and Indigenous peoples.

About the Initiative

NAISI fosters innovative scholarship and cross-disciplinary collaboration and aims to increase student and public engagement through lectures, academic programming, and community gatherings.

Recent News

"I think of craft as allowing your hands to speak before your mind does. It's allowed me to navigate the world in a slower, kinder way." –Eric-Paul Riege (Diné)

In this video, weaver and fiber artist, Eric-Paul Riege, and Associate Curator at the The Bell / Brown Arts Institute, Thea Quiray Tagle, discuss how ojo|-|ólǫ́ – Riege's largest institutional solo show to date – came to life at The Bell.
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Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice

Reclaiming the Past: Black & Indigenous Histories Summer Institute Returns

In July 2025, we welcomed 15 High School students for a week of learning, reflection, and community-building focused on the often-untold histories of Black and Indigenous peoples in New England. Brown’s Simmons Center, NAISI, and the Tomaquag Museum led courses on the 13th Amendment and The War for the Dawnland, with guest speakers and space to reflect on these important stories.
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