Native American and Indigenous Studies program builds interdisciplinary insight from deep cultural and historic foundations.
East Tennessee is the ancestral homeland of at least 11 different Native American tribal nations—Cherokee, Yuchi, Muscogee, Shawnee, the Coushatta, and others. Their Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary experiences are essential to understanding the past, present, and future of the region and the nation.
In recognition of this important cultural foundation, the Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) program launches later this year in response to longstanding student and faculty interest in more sustained, interdisciplinary engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems, sovereignty, creativity, and resilience.
“NAIS seeks to center Indigenous voices and perspectives while fostering ethical, community-engaged scholarship that connects academic study with lived realities,” said Associate Professor of History Brooke Bauer, chair of the program.
Courses Built on Interdisciplinary Expertise
Faculty expertise from across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts contributes to the interdisciplinary NAIS curriculum, including scholars from history, anthropology, sociology, literature, art and art history, biology, and environmental studies, plus faculty from the Center for Global Engagement and the Appalachian Justice Research Center.
“This collaborative structure allows students to encounter Indigenous studies from multiple vantage points—historical, cultural, political, and creative—while seeing how these perspectives inform one another,” said Bauer. “Students can look forward to courses that challenge common misconceptions, highlight Indigenous intellectual traditions, and emphasize critical thinking, ethical engagement, and interdisciplinary inquiry.”
Core NAIS courses will introduce students to major themes in Native American history, survivance, resilience, tribal sovereignty and governance, land and environmental relationships, cultural expression and storytelling, and contemporary Indigenous issues at local, national, and global levels.
Indigenous Insight Enhances a Range of Studies
The NAIS minor will complement a wide range of major and minor fields of study, pairing well with majors in history, anthropology, sociology, political science, Appalachian justice, environmental studies, education, art, English, and communication, as well as pre-law, public policy, and sustainability-focused programs. The program provides valuable cultural, historical, and analytical frameworks that enhance studies for students pursuing careers in education, public service, healthcare, law, environmental advocacy, or cultural institutions.
Courses in the NAIS program will connect historical experiences of the region with contemporary cultural dynamics, inviting Vols from all backgrounds to engage deeply with Indigenous perspectives and to carry those insights into their personalized academic studies, professional lives, and communities.
“The program encourages students to think critically about knowledge production, to recognize Indigenous communities as living and dynamic, and to understand their own responsibilities as learners and global citizens,” said Bauer. “At its core, NAIS is not only an academic program but also a commitment to respectful learning, listening, and relationship-building.”
by Randall Brown