The American Indian Studies (AIS) program at Arizona State University advances Indigenous scholarship through rigorous, relevant curricula, impactful research, and meaningful community engagement. Rooted in Indigenous epistemologies and histories, AIS affirms Native nations’ sovereignty and fosters scholarship that is both critically engaged and socially transformative. In alignment with ASU’s Charter commitment to inclusion, community impact, and use-inspired research, AIS produces knowledge that supports Indigenous self-determination and strengthens Indigenous futures.
Building upon the foundations of Indigenous activism and scholarship since the Red Power Movement of 1969, AIS contributes to the ongoing development of the field as a distinct yet interdisciplinary discipline within Indigenous Studies. We center Indigenous governance, knowledge systems, and cultural traditions while engaging fields such as history, law, political science, environmental studies, and the arts. Recognizing both the unique identities and shared experiences of Indigenous nations, our approach highlights their diverse histories, political realities, and cultural resilience.
AIS offers a rigorous curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels, equipping students with theoretical foundations and applied knowledge essential for Indigenous nation-building, governance, cultural revitalization, and decolonization. Our faculty conducts research that interrogates colonial structures, advances Indigenous methodologies, and affirms Indigenous knowledge. Committed to ethical, reciprocal partnerships, we prioritize scholarship that is both academically rigorous and socially impactful.
Central to our work is the recognition of Indigenous voices as the foundation of knowledge production. We honor oral traditions, histories of survival and resistance, and the responsibilities of intergenerational knowledge transmission. AIS at ASU cultivates scholars, practitioners, and leaders prepared to collaborate with Indigenous communities to advance their priorities, uphold sovereignty, and contribute to their resilience and self-determination. Through teaching, research, and community partnerships, we continue to strengthen AIS as a discipline, contribute to Indigenous Studies, and uphold ASU’s commitment to serving Indigenous nations and fostering inclusive excellence.