Native American and Indigenous Studies at Brown

05/18/2026

Please join us in celebrating NAISI Assistant Director Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason, whose debut picture book, "Grandmother Moon," was selected for the 2026 Library of Congress National Book Festival!

One of the nation’s largest literary events, the National Book Festival brings together some of the most recognized writers in the country, alongside a small number of selected works that represent communities and stories from across the U.S., drawing tens of thousands of readers each year. One youth and one adult title from each state and territory is chosen for the “Great Reads from Great Places” list, with "Grandmother Moon" representing Connecticut in 2026.

Congratulations, Wunnea—we're so proud of you! 🎉❤️

05/13/2026

Check out the recent blog post from CNAIS concentrator, co-DUG leader, and 2026 Center for Native American Youth Brave Heart Fellow, Jeamilett Martinez!

Read the blog, "Two-Eyed Seeing: A Reflection on Western Science & Indigenous Knowledge on Earth Day," at the link below!🔗
https://www.cnay.org/two-eyed-seeing-earth-day/

Photo: CNAY's "What’s Blooming in Brave Heart Country?" social media post

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The Brave Heart track of the Center for Native American Youth Fellowship uplifts Native youth from the Pacific Northwest (ages 18–24) as leaders in environmental justice—supporting their work to advance food sovereignty, protect sacred lands & waters, and carry forward Indigenous knowledge for future generations.

05/11/2026

NAISI would like to extend a tremendous thank you to everyone who joined us for our Round Dance in honor of Brown’s graduating Native and Indigenous students! 🎓❤️

NAISI was proud to partner with Natives at Brown - NAB to create such a wonderful evening filled with joy, song, laughter, and community. Seeing so many people travel from across the region to celebrate and uplift our students was a powerful reminder of how much our communities consistently show up for one another.

Creating spaces where Indigenous students feel seen, supported, and celebrated is essential, and this gathering provided exactly that. We are deeply grateful to Narragansett elder, Evangeline Hankinson, for her welcoming words, to Jonathan Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag) for serving as MC, to Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy), Justin Beatty(Ojibwe/Saponi), and the Iron River singers for sharing your songs and hand drums, to Destiny Spears (Narragansett) of Wisagate for providing a delicious, local meal, and to Leah Hopkins-Perry (Narragansett) for your enthusiastic support from the very beginning.

📸: DuVarney Film and Photo

05/05/2026

May is recognized as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIW/R) Awareness Month, and May 5 is National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.⁠
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Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIW/R) is an ongoing human rights crisis that continues to impact Indigenous communities across North America. Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people face disproportionately high rates of violence, disappearance, and homicide. Yet, these cases are often underreported, misclassified, or left unresolved.⁠

MMIW/R is not only about raising awareness, but also about honoring lives, supporting families and communities, and demanding systemic change in law enforcement, media representation, and public policy. As we uplift this issue, we also affirm the strength, resilience, and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples, and the importance of community-led advocacy, remembrance, and justice.
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For more information, visit the MMIW/R resources below:

- https://www.indian-affairs.org/survivorsresources.html
- https://www.ncai.org/section/vawa/overview/key-statistics
- https://www.niwrc.org/mmiwr-awareness
- https://www.uihi.org/resources/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-girls/

04/29/2026

04/28/2026

Last week, NAISI had the pleasure of hosting our 4th Annual Spring Research Symposium!

Thank you to our presenters who so graciously shared their research—we can’t wait to see what you all do next!—and the family and community members who supported our student scholars both in-person and virtually.

Special thanks to NAISI TCMR Emeritus, Cameron Greendeer (Ho-Chunk), for providing a welcome song, and current Tribal Community Member in Residence & Student Engagement Specialist Ruth Torres (Schaghticoke) for organizing another successful symposium!

04/27/2026

We're looking forward to seeing everyone tonight! Join us in celebrating this year's graduating Native American and Indigenous students at Brown.🎓✨

NAISI and Natives @ Brown invite you to join us for an evening of cultural celebration and community recognition. This Round Dance social and blanketing is held in honor of our graduating Native American and Indigenous Students. Local Tribal community members and Brown University community members are welcome to attend.

Drum: Iron River
Emcee: Jonathan James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag)
Hand drums welcome!

04/24/2026

Native American and Indigenous community members are invited to an after-hours, open-house-style gathering to explore the collections of the John Carter Brown Library on Wednesday, April 29, from 6-8pm.

From the JCB:
"This research night highlights materials related to Indigenous languages, including Nahuatl, Quechua, K’iche’, Guaraní, Aymara, Iroquoian and Algonquian languages and more. Items from the collection include early grammars, dictionaries, and religious texts produced in the 16th through 18th centuries, a subject area for which the JCB has significant holdings. These materials are complex. Many were created through processes of colonial extraction, translation, and control—often shaping how Indigenous languages were recorded, interpreted, and constrained. At the same time, they often hold knowledge, histories, and connections that remain meaningful for communities today.

This evening is an invitation to:

- Spend time with these materials on your own terms
- Reflect on the histories they carry
- Connect with library staff and learn what’s available
- Share knowledge, questions, and perspectives (if you wish)
- Explore how these resources might support your community, research, or language work

We recognize that languages are living and relational. We encourage all attendees to engage with materials in ways that align with their own community protocols and responsibilities, and to please reach out with questions or concerns."

Registration is encouraged, though not required: https://jcblibrary.org/events/indigenous-community-open-research-night-at-the-john-carter-brown-library/

04/20/2026

Check out this recent News from Brown article featuring CNAIS concentrators Skyler Recel-Chang '27 and Star Kekina '29!

In a night of song, dance and storytelling, the student organization’s sold-out celebration explored the enduring legacy of the paniolo and the richness of Hawaiian culture and traditions.

04/18/2026

CALL FOR PROPOSALS
2026 Global Indigenous Studies Conference from Multiple Perspectives (CGIS 2026)
Held virtually via Zoom
November 13–15, 2026
The final date to submit a proposal is April 30, 2026.

The Global Indigenous Studies Network (GISN) within the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies (HLSGIS) at Indiana University Bloomington is pleased to announce the Call for Proposals for the Second Conference on Global Indigenous Studies from Multiple Perspectives.

We invite proposals for panels, individual papers, roundtable discussions, interactive workshops, performances, and poster sessions to be presented virtually.

CGIS 2026 is a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and global gathering that will bring together scholars, educators, practitioners, students, policymakers, activists, Indigenous leaders, and organizations from around the world. Participants will engage in dialogue, share research, and exchange experiences on key issues related to Indigenous knowledge, languages, education, rights, and cultural revitalization.

For more information about this event, please follow the links below:
Website: https://indigenous.indiana.edu/conference/call-for-proposals/index.html
Keynote Speakers: https://indigenous.indiana.edu/conference/speakers/index.html
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