Changing the World, One Student-Warrior at a Time
Welcome to Portland State University’s Indigenous Nations Studies Department!
We offer a major and minor in Indigenous Nations & Native American Studies and an undergraduate certificate in Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge (ITECK).
Designed for Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners alike, our academic programs are highly unique in the Pacific Northwest and the nation owing to:
- Urban Reclaiming: The focus of courses on reclaiming urban landscapes for food, medicine, ceremony and healthy lifeways,
- Hands-On Learning: The significant requirement for hands-on, community-centered learning that builds technical skills and career connections,
- Flexible Access: Options for both undergraduate students and non-degree seeking students and professionals,
- Multiple Modalities: Opportunities for learning through multiple modalities, and
- Community Partnerships: The high degree of partnership and support from community including tribal community members, and local and federal agencies and organizations.
Students may also choose to complete our minor either through a mix of online and in-person instruction or fully online.
"What happens in Indigenous Nations Studies truly changes the world, one-warrior student at a time." - Cornel Pewewardy (Comanche-Kiowa), founding director of Indigenous Nations Studies at PSU