In the spring of 1970, a group of Native American students brainstormed ways to prioritize Native studies at the UW. They submitted their ideas to the College of Arts & Sciences, which provided crucial support at a time when University finances were limited. Professors James Nason (Comanche) from Anthropology and Frances Swensson (Lakota) from Political Science, along with students, met throughout the summer to produce a highly interdisciplinary academic program. By the fall of 1970, the American Indian Studies Center was formed, with faculty from across campus teaching anthropology, art and history from a Native perspective.
In 1971, the UW American Indian Student Council (now First Nations @ UW) held its first spring powwow. In 1974, Marvin Oliver, ’73, taught the first American Indian Studies class, Art of the North American Indians. Vi Hilbert, an elder from the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe taught Lushootseed language. The Native Voices filmmaking program, which began in 1999, rose in popularity throughout the aughts. By 2002, students could major or minor in American Indian Studies, and in 2009, it became an academic department.
Today, the American Indian Studies department offers a major, a minor and a graduate certificate in American Indian Studies, a minor in Oceania and Pacific Islander Studies, and now a certificate in Tribal Gaming and Hospitality Management.
This year marks 55 years for one of the largest and most comprehensive American Indian Studies programs in the world. UW Magazine spoke with five faculty from AIS, each of whom shares a passion for Native knowledge.
You can read their interviews and see more beautiful photos of AIS over the years, on the UW Magazine website.