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.

Upcoming Events

Recent News

Brown launches new Critical Native American and Indigenous Studies concentration

March 7, 2023

Almost one year after being announced at the April 2022 faculty meeting, the Critical Native American and Indigenous Studies concentration is now available for students.

Read Article

Brown Daily Herald

‘There There’ author Tommy Orange discusses writing, representation as part of two-day residency

February 27, 2023

Tommy Orange, author of “There There,” spoke about the challenges faced by Indigenous communities regarding identity and representation at an event hosted by the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative and Department of Literary Arts on Monday, Feb. 27.

Read Article

News from Brown

‘Braiding Sweetgrass’ author: ‘We haven’t loved the land enough’

November 5, 2022

At the end of a three-day residency at Brown, bestselling author and Indigenous botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer took part in a panel discussion focused in part on how Indigenous knowledge can help address climate change.

Read Article