Native America Calling: College Native American Studies programs map their next steps

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Native America Calling: College Native American Studies programs map their next steps

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

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College Native American Studies programs map their next steps

College Native American Studies courses are engines for Native-led research in addition to serving as a welcoming academic home for Native students.

As it is, Native students are already the most under-represented group on college campuses. Their numbers declined in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic.

And there are indications that the 2023 Supreme Court decision upending Affirmative Action and the Donald Trump Administration’s focus on unraveling Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives are doing further damage to all minority enrollment.

As the American Indian Studies Association convention gets underway at the University of New Mexico, tune in to assess the power and challenges of college programs focusing specifically on Native issues.