Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative

Ruth Garby Torres, an enrolled member of the Schaghticoke Tribe from Connecticut, earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies with a concentration in political science from Charter Oak State College and has a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University. Her published works include a chapter about the Schaghticoke quest for federal acknowledgement in Recognition, Sovereignty Struggles and Indigenous Rights in the U.S. and a co-edited (with Trudie Lamb Richmond) section of writings by Schaghticoke people in Dawnland Voices. 

Ruth is a board member of the Connecticut Humanities Council and a founding member of the Schaghticoke Women’s Traditional Council. She has also served on the Connecticut Native American Heritage Advisory Council, the Harvard University Native American Alumni board of directors and was a trustee for the Institute of American Indian Studies (Washington, Ct.). Ruth is a 20-year member of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), where she is part of the Federal Acknowledgement Task Force and a regular Elections Committee volunteer. In addition to her tribal governance interest and experience, Ruth has worked for state and municipal governments and her academic interests include the study of leadership, governance, and women’s studies, especially how these relate to tribal communities. With her husband of 30 years, Rafael, Ruth lives in Connecticut and also spends time at a second home in Ciales, Puerto Rico.

 

As the 2023/24 TCMR with NAISI, Ruth provides culturally-centered support and mentoring for students on campus and serves as a resource for offices and departments across the campus in an advisory role for faculty and staff on topics such as how to deepen representation of Native and Indigenous peoples and cultures and include Indigenous epistemologies and knowledges within our curriculum, programming and activities.