Department of American Indian Studies

Community and mentorship made all the difference to Sherri Berdine (2008) as an Alaska Native (Aleut & CIRI Descendent) UW student. Now she's the University's Director of Tribal Relations.

In honor of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, deepen your learning in American Indian studies, make connections on campus, and celebrate the work of the University of Washington Seattle's College of Arts & Sciences faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Her exploration at the UW has led Stephanie Masterman (BA, American Indian Studies; Arctic Studies minor; 2022) to leadership roles in her tribal community.

Josh Reid, associate professor of American Indian studies, explains the Duwamish tribe's long struggle for federal recognition.

University of Washington Provost Mark A. Richards today announced Dianne Harris will become dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, beginning Sept. 1.

This week, watch a UW alum on NBC’s Making It, attend a discussion hosted by the Henry Art Gallery, and more.

This week, attend several museum exhibitions, the Indigenous walking tour, and more.

Three youth leaders advocated for environmental protection, legislation to ban Native mascots and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis Friday afternoon, June 11, during the Seattle CityClub’s digital series “Civic Boot Camp.” The Zoom event was moderated by Owen Oliver, who graduated from the UW in 2021 with a degree in American Indian Studies and Political Science and is of Quinault and Isleta Pueblo heritage, and featured UW student and athletic advocate Rosalie Fish of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. [This story appeared in multiple outlets]

Three youth leaders advocated for environmental protection, legislation to ban Native mascots and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis Friday afternoon, June 11, during the Seattle CityClub’s digital series “Civic Boot Camp.” The Zoom event was moderated by Owen Oliver, who graduated from the UW in 2021 with a degree in American Indian Studies and Political Science and is of Quinault and Isleta Pueblo heritage, and featured UW student and athletic advocate Rosalie Fish of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. [This story appeared in multiple outlets]

David McGrath of the College of the DuPage writes about criticism of his earlier op-ed suggesting that the name of the Chicago Blackhawks be changed: "This story ... about the corpses of more than 200 children found at a Canadian Indigenous boarding school may open the eyes of those same fans to the fact that the name change is not about them or their sports pleasures and preferences, but about Native American youth, victims of ethnic cleansing and atrocities on this continent for centuries — people who continue to suffer today because of dehumanizing stereotypes such as the Blackhawks logo." Stephanie Fryberg, professor of American Indian studies at the UW, is referenced.

This week at the UW, attend a lecture on revolutionary reforms to the metric system, "Asian American Women Rising: NOT the Model Minority," and more.

The concept of taking back Native land isn’t new. But it encapsulates more than most realize. Charlotte Coté, associate professor of American Indian studies, is quoted.

In an effort to protect the Native American community, the elders of Washington’s tribes and the state government have been forced to shut down large competitive and traditional powwows as a matter of social distancing, leaving this important emblem of Native American community, cultural visibility and in some cases, livelihood, on indefinite pause. Scott Pinkham, lecturer in American Indian studies at the UW, is quoted.

Tami Hohn, assistant teaching professor of American Indian Studies, has helped to create a new street sign for a newly renamed campus road.

Concerned it would threaten their cultural preservation, history and treaty rights, 40 tribes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska joined a Jan. 4 lawsuit with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson to stop the federal government from selling the National Archives facility in Seattle and shipping its millions of boxes of records to California and Missouri. Alexandra Harmon, professor emerita of American Indian studies and of history at the UW, is quoted.