Native American Studies

Abstract

While Indigenous knowledge systems, theories, and research have been in existence for time immemorial, the academic field of Native American Studies (NAS) grew out of the civil rights era in the late 1960s. During the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, Native people in the United States organized resistance efforts, such as the reclaiming of Alcatraz Island in 1969, the 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties march to Washington, DC, and the seventy-two-day protest and prayer at Wounded Knee in 1973. These activities are a few of the most well known, yet Native peoples have been resisting occupation of their lands, assimilationist forces, and settler colonialism and reclaiming land for decades. Activist groups such as the American Indian Movement organized many of these efforts, and with the increase of Native American students entering college during this time period, the level of activism and public awareness aligned with students’ demands for Native knowledge, perspectives, and experiences to be included in college courses. They also challenged universities to hire more Native American faculty. NAS in universities came out of these efforts, and academic programs were created from the West Coast to the East Coast in several universities. NAS draws on interdisciplinary perspectives from areas such as history, political science, anthropology, sociology, and education to examine the historical and modern issues faced by Native American and other Indigenous people and communities globally. This interdisciplinary approach allows scholars of NAS to examine the complexities and breadth of interests and problems in Native American communities. Of particular significance is the understanding and exercise of political sovereignty among Native Nations, which sets NAS apart from other ethnic-studies areas. Sovereignty is the right of a people to self-governance and self-determination. This includes rights to self-education and linguistic and cultural expression. Native Nations’ inherent sovereignty was recognized during treaty negotiations and agreements, and it has provided the basis for policies affecting Native communities today. This article recognizes the diverse areas of study that encompass NAS, including important areas connected to Native Nations’ application of their sovereign rights. The article identifies twelve subject areas that have prominence in scholarship that informs NAS. It also prioritizes scholarship by Indigenous authors, who provide the perspectives and lived experiences relevant to NAS.