Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative

Research Projects

Read about some notable student and faculty research and community engagement projects at Brown related to Native American and Indigenous Studies on this page.

Faculty and University Projects

Co-edited by Crystal M. Fleming, Veronica Y. Womack, and NAISI-affiliated Brown University faculty member Jeffrey ProulxBeyond White Mindfulness: Critical Perspectives on Racism, Well-being, and Liberation (Routledge Press) brings together interdisciplinary perspectives on mind-body interventions, group-based identities, and social justice. Marshaling both empirical data and theoretical approaches, the book examines a broad range of questions related to mindfulness, meditation, and diverse communities.

While there is growing public interest in mind-body health, holistic wellness, and contemplative practice, critical research on these topics featuring minority perspectives and experiences is relatively rare. This book draws on cutting edge insights from psychology, sociology, gender, and critical race theory to fill this void. Major themes include: culture, identity, and awareness; intersectional approaches to the study of mindfulness and minority stress; cultural competence in developing and teaching mindfulness-based health interventions; and the complex relationships between mindfulness, inequality, and social justice. The first book of its kind to bring together scholarly and personal reflections on mindfulness for diverse populations, Beyond White Mindfulness offers social science students and practitioners in this area a new perspective on mindfulness and suggestions for future scholarship.

Led by Professor of History Linford Fisher, Stolen Relations (formerly the Database of Indigenous Slavery in the Americas) is a community-centered database project funded by Brown University and the National Endowment for the Humanities that seeks to illuminate and understand the role the enslavement of Indigenous peoples played in settler colonialism over time. 

Student Projects

Chandlee Crawford, a 2024 CNAIS concentrator, focused his capstone project delved into Wabanaki wampum culture through academic research and hands-on application. His paper examined how prominent anthropologists have defined wampum cultures in the Northeast and compared the treatment of Wabanaki wampum to others. After exploring the grading of Northeastern tribes’ wampum by Western anthropologists, he critiqued the classifications of quality by these academics, arguing that they overlooked the cultural significance of wampum. Additionally, he collaborated with tribal members to recreate an historic wampum belt, following traditional protocols and practices and reusing wampum pieces from an existing belt. As a wampum artist himself, Crawford worked with a tribal elder and mentor to create his wampum belt for this capstone.

Luiz Paulo Ferraz, a PhD candidate in History from Brazil, spent the summer of 2023 traveling through various Brazilian cities. His journey involved interviewing Indigenous leaders, their allies, and government officials while examining historical documents in private and public archives. All this is part of his research for his dissertation, tentatively titled "Becoming 'the Real Climate Leaders:' The Rise of Brazilian Indigenous Peoples as Environmental Defenders in the Global Political Arena." Luiz Paulo's work looks at how Indigenous and environmental issues overlapped during the Brazilian military dictatorship era (1964-1985) and its aftermath, and how this influenced debates on Indigenous and environmental rights both within and outside of Brazil. Next, Luiz Paulo plans to visit Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, and other cities in the Amazon region to further his dissertation research.

CNAIS 2024 concentrator, Kalikoonāmaukūpuna “Kaliko” Kalāhiki’s capstone project, "Queering Aloha ʻĀina," involved development of a podcast that uplifts māhū and queer kānaka voices and challenges prevailing theories and beliefs about identity. Their work aims to reclaim traditional identities within Ka Lāhui (a native initiative for self determination). In this podcast, Kalahiki shares insights from 13 interviews, spotlighting the experiences of māhū (third gender people with traditional spiritual and social roles within their cultures) and advocating for their recognition in Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) culture.

Shea Hueston, a 2024 CNAIS concentrator, focused her senior capstone on suicide prevention on the Navajo Reservation, with a specific focus on addressing the alarming rise of elder suicide among Native American populations and with her tribe, in particular. Her work delved into the recent and devastating increase in Native elder suicide rates and provided proposals for how to address this critical issue, such as elder-in-residence programs at elementary and high schools and allocating more resources to elder care within Indigenous communities.
 

Under the theme “Seeding Indigenous-Settler Reciprocity at Brown,” Ariana Clark, a 2024 CNAIS concentrator, initiated the creation of a traditional medicine and pollinator Northeast Indigenous garden at the John Carter Brown Center for Advanced Studies, complemented by drafting recommendations for the University to further the commitments related to the University’s land acknowledgement. The garden features Indigenous flora from 100 seeds of 20 plant species donated by Elizabeth James-Perry, who served as a NAISI Artist in Residence during the spring semester. This capstone was supported by NAISI’s Mellon Foundation Grant to develop Native American and Indigenous Studies at Brown, in addition to other support from across the University.

Marie Bordelon, a CNAIS 2024 concentrator, focused her capstone project on the revival of the Tehuana dress, a cherished facet of her Oaxacan heritage. Delving into Oaxaca's cultural commodification, Bordelon examined the history of las Tehuanas, the traditional attire of the Binnizá (her community in Mexico). With its iconic elements like the "resplandor" headdress and distinctive huipil, the dress embodies tribal identity and a sense of place. Bordelon's project involved crafting her own modern interpretation of the dress, aiming to reclaim its cultural essence.

Chase Bryer, PhD student in Behavioral and Social Health Sciences, received Mellon funding to attend the June 2024 annual conference of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA), the primary academic association for NAIS. This year’s conference was held overseas in BODØ (Bådåddjo/Buvvda/Bodø), Norway (or Sábme). This year’s conference provided opportunities to meet and learn more about the Sammi people, on whose homelands the gathering occurred, and included the well-known Sammi market, an art exhibit and Soptsestimmie (storytelling) events.
 

Chase Bryer, Chickasaw PhD student in Behavioral and Social Health Sciences and NAISI Graduate Student Program Coordinator, continued his work with the Two-Spirit Dry Lab (2SDL) during the summer of 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia. 2SDL is Turtle Island’s first research group that focuses exclusively on Two-Spirit people, communities, and experiences. The lab works to promote culturally responsive practices in sex and gender research and to grow new knowledge(s) that can be applied to improve the lives, health and/or wellbeing of Two-Spirit and other Indigenous people. His upcoming work in summer 2023 is supported by the Lighting Up Native Aspirations (LUNA) program through the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute at the University of Washington. In May 2023, Chase attended the second annual Two-Spirit Dry Lab strategic planning retreat. The retreat brought together Lab members for team building, strategic planning, and collaborative work.