American Indian Studies

Overview

The American Indian Studies program of the University of Minnesota studies a multidisciplinary field that looks at the histories, cultures, arts, languages, literatures, philosophies, religions, economies, politics, and legal status of indigenous peoples.

Comparative Perspective

American Indian Studies scholars are trained in a wide range of disciplines that reflect the diversity of indigenous peoples. We stress a comparative perspective, which focuses both on the many differences that distinguish tribal nations as sovereign bodies and on the many similarities that unite them in common interests and causes. We give special attention to the sovereignty of American Indian nations as this is expressed in all walks of life, from the preservation and revitalization of Native languages to the protection and retention of Native lands.

Theoretical and Practical Knowledge

American Indian Studies is a discipline where Native voices can challenge the dominant society’s assumptions about the cultures, histories, and legal status of American Indians. It is a field committed to building theoretical and practical knowledge that bears upon the past, present, and future of tribal nations.