Native American & Indigenous Studies

Undergraduate Minor College of Liberal Studies

About:

Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) at PLU is an interdisciplinary program grounded in a partnership between students, professors, staff, and local tribes. As an NAIS student, you’ll explore global Indigeneity with a focus on local and regional contexts. You won’t just learn about Indigenous peoples, you’ll learn with and from them. The program is designed as a collaborative learning space in which academic systems and Indigenous ways of knowing meet. As a student, you will be empowered to recognize, honor, and champion Indigenous ways of knowing, so that you can work collaboratively with Indigenous communities.

Skills you'll gain from this program:

Collaboration with Tribal Partners — Learn how to respectfully and effectively engage with Indigenous communities, a vital skill in the Pacific Northwest where tribal nations are cultural, political, and economic leaders.
Supporting Sovereignty & Revitalization — Develop the knowledge to advocate for tribal sovereignty and contribute to the revitalization of Indigenous cultures and lifeways.
Decolonizing Perspectives — Gain tools to reflect on your own education and responsibilities to both human and more-than-human worlds, helping you approach learning with humility and respect.
Educational Expertise — Build the background future educators need to teach Washington State’s “Since Time Immemorial” curriculum with accuracy and care.
Intercultural Competency — Whether you’re preparing for a career in healthcare, education, social work, business, or natural resource management, you’ll strengthen your ability to collaborate meaningfully alongside Native communities.

NAIS graduates: Their jobs

Samish Language Program Manager, Samish Indian Tribe
Head of School, UW Children’s Center at Portage Bay
Indigenous Cultures Educator, Bonita Museum and Cultural Center
Grant Program Manager for Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander Students, North Seattle College

NAIS graduates: Their graduate programs

Master of Arts in Pacific Island Studies, University of Hawaii Manoa
PhD in Literature, University of Washington
Master of Arts in Indigenous Studies, University of Saskatchewan
Master of Arts in Museology/Museum Studies, University of Washington

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“As a person non-native to Washington, it’s vital I make connections with the original and continuing stewards of this land. Through my internship with the Nisqually Tribal Library, I wanted to help enhance the health and wellness collection to support enrolled tribal and community members with relevant materials.”

— Olivia T. ’25

“NAIS is unique in our region for its focus on global Indigeneity, while also being grounded in local Southern Coast Salish language and community engagement.”

— Suzanne Crawford O’Brien, Professor of Religion and Culture

“PLU’s NAIS program did more than connect me to the intelligent and bright academic community of NAIS, but (re)connected me back to myself as a Kanaka Maoli. The faculty and staff carved a place that values Indigenous knowledge and its thinkers, letting me be my whole self in academia.”

— Dejan K., ‘20

Building Community

Each year, PLU welcomes the Puyallup Tribe’s Culture Department to harvest camas on the PLU campus together.

Classes

Students take classes in Indigenous languages and worldviews of the Pacific Northwest, including Southern Lushootseed.

Study Away

NAIS students can spend semesters studying in Oaxaca, New Zealand, or Namibia.

Get Involved

The Native Indigenous Student Association prioritizes belonging for Indigenous students on campus, and educates members and the community on global indigenous cultures as a form of celebration and activism.