UMD Department of American Indian Studies

UMD Department of American Indian Studies We have several degree programs, including:
B.A. in Tribal Administration & Governance
B.A. In addition, we offer non-degree certificates and training.

American Indian Studies (AIS) is an academic department in which active scholars serve to educate students, colleagues, and the public about tribal sovereignty, and the historical and contemporary experiences of Native peoples and nations. in American Indian Studies
minor in American Indian Studies
Master of Tribal Resource & Environmental Stewardship (MTRES)
Master in Tribal Administration & Governance (MTAG)
Coming soon: Graduate Certificates! The Minnesota Department of Transportation collaborates with AIS to offer the Tribal-State Relations Training (TSRT). The mission of the TSRT is to provide training and education for Minnesota state employees about American Indian tribal governments, histories, cultures, and traditions in order to empower state employees to work effectively with American Indians, and promote authentic and respectful relationships between state agencies and American Indian tribes. AIS established the Tribal Sovereignty Institute (TSI) in 2012. The TSI engages with Native nations on research projects, offers certificates, and is building the capacity to offer scholarships.

Aaniin-giinawaa! 👋Our partners at the American Indian Learning Resource Center UMD have organized an Orange Shirt Day ev...
09/11/2026

Aaniin-giinawaa! 👋

Our partners at the American Indian Learning Resource Center UMD have organized an Orange Shirt Day event featuring over very own professor emeritus, Linda LeGarde Grover! Join the AILRC and Linda on Wednesday, September 30th from 1:30-3:00pm in the Kirby Rafters!

See the poster for further details!

Miigwech! 🙏

Boozhoo! 👋🏼Our partners at the Tribal Sovereignty Institute have organized the Applied Governance Symposium to connect T...
08/28/2026

Boozhoo! 👋🏼

Our partners at the Tribal Sovereignty Institute have organized the Applied Governance Symposium to connect Tribal practitioners, students, and researchers to share ideas, support one another, and shape the future of Tribal administration and governance.

🗓️ WHEN: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
🗺 WHERE: Stoney Brook Creek Room at Black Bear Casino Resort
🎟️ COST: FREE! (Registration required)
⏰ RSVP required by Wednesday, September 23!

Learn more and register! https://calendar.d.umn.edu/event/105532-umd-tribal-sovereignty-institute-applied

Miigwech!

Aaniin-giinawaa!👋We are absolutely thrilled to share this CAHSS feature celebrating the incredible research team—includi...
08/03/2026

Aaniin-giinawaa!👋

We are absolutely thrilled to share this CAHSS feature celebrating the incredible research team—including our very own Department Head, Dr. Jill Doerfler—behind creating a digital edition of Muzzeniegun, or The Literary Voyager. 📖✨

This project represents vital work for our field, making a significant work of early Indigenous literature publicly accessible.

Read the full article on the CAHSS website to learn more about the team's incredible work:
🔗 https://cahss.d.umn.edu/articles/doerfler-litmag-grant

The Muzzeniegun, or The Literary Voyageur, was published from 1826 to 1827. It was collaboratively created by the Ojibwe poet Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, her siblings, and her settler husband and includes poetry, biographies, Ojibwe stories, and anthropological information. The project will create a....

Boozhoo! 👋Our very own Assistant Professor, Dr. Jonnelle Walker, was featured in a UMD News article highlighting the Azh...
06/18/2026

Boozhoo! 👋

Our very own Assistant Professor, Dr. Jonnelle Walker, was featured in a UMD News article highlighting the Azhe-Manidoo Mino-Ishkodeng Zhagawaamikong-Neyaashi: Returning the Spirit of Good Fire to Minnesota Point* project! 🔥

In the feature, Dr. Walker discusses how the vital cultural and environmental stewardship practices central to this project connect directly to what she teaches in the classroom, both in her undergraduate American Indian Studies courses and her graduate courses in the Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship (MTRES) program.

This incredible initiative is a joint collaboration bridging many communities and organizations. The project brings together the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the City of Duluth, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Point 50, the Park Point Community Club, Good Sky Guidance, Dovetail Partners, Ethical Embers, the University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Check out the fully updated story here to see how "Good Fire" is returning to the landscape:
🔗 https://d.umn.edu/news/Minnesota-Point

For the first time in more than 180 years, fire — Ishkode in Ojibwe — will return to Minnesota Point.

05/09/2026

Congratulations 🎉 to all of our Class of 2026 AIS, TAG, MTAG, and MTRES students who received recognition of their hard work at Commencement this afternoon! It was great seeing you!

Best to all of you in your endeavors!

Congratulations 🎉 to our AIS, TAG, MTAG, and MTRES students who are graduating tomorrow! We had our 2026 Department Grad...
05/08/2026

Congratulations 🎉 to our AIS, TAG, MTAG, and MTRES students who are graduating tomorrow! We had our 2026 Department Graduation Reception today and got to have many of our students and faculty all together in the same room!

For those of you who won't be attending the 2026 Commencement activities tomorrow, come celebrate at the 2nd Annual Hono...
05/08/2026

For those of you who won't be attending the 2026 Commencement activities tomorrow, come celebrate at the 2nd Annual Honor the Youth Powwow at Lincoln Park Middle School! The Dept. of American Indian Studies will be tabling, so stop by and visit with Drs. Jill Doerfler and Jonnelle Walker while you're there! ✨

Signal boosting!The Indigenous students at Lincoln Park Middle School have helped put together the 2nd Annual Honor the ...
04/28/2026

Signal boosting!

The Indigenous students at Lincoln Park Middle School have helped put together the 2nd Annual Honor the Youth Powwow. Saturday, May 9th, all are welcome! See the poster for full details!

03/16/2026

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1123 University Drive, 110 Cina Hall
Duluth, MN
55812

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