Letter from the Chair - Spring 2026
ƛayaḥułał quuʔasm̓inḥ, Greetings everyone,
As we come to the end of another academic year, I find myself reflecting on my first year serving as Chair of the Department of American Indian Studies. It has been a year filled with learning, growth, and gratitude, and I am honored to be part of such a vibrant and dedicated community. As a longtime member of the AIS faculty, having taught in the department since 2001, it has been especially meaningful to serve as Chair and help lead a department that has shaped generations of students, scholars, and community leaders.
At the heart of American Indian Studies are our students. This spring, we celebrated our graduates at our annual AIS Graduation Luncheon at wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House, surrounded by family, friends, faculty, staff, and community members. Watching our students reach this important milestone is one of the greatest rewards of being an educator. Their accomplishments remind us why our work matters and inspire us to continue creating opportunities for future generations of Indigenous students.
This year also highlighted the many ways AIS extends beyond the classroom. Through programs such as the Living Breath of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Indigenous Foods Symposium and Sacred Breath, we brought together students, Elders, knowledge holders, artists, scholars, and community members to share Indigenous knowledge, strengthen relationships, and celebrate the resilience and vitality of our communities. These gatherings reflect our commitment to community-engaged learning and to supporting Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
This has also been a year of growth for our department. We celebrated the promotion and tenure of Jen Rose Smith and welcomed Joe Seymour to our faculty. Their scholarship, teaching, and commitment to Indigenous communities strengthen the work of AIS and enrich the educational experiences of our students. We also celebrated Kai Wise's ten years of service and her unwavering commitment to supporting our students and the AIS community.
As I reflect on the year, I am reminded that AIS is much more than an academic department. For more than five decades, AIS has served as a place where Indigenous histories, cultures, knowledges, and futures are nurtured, celebrated, and shared. It is a community grounded in relationships; relationships with our students, tribal communities, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and one another. These relationships sustain our work and guide our efforts to create a welcoming and supportive environment where students can thrive.
I am deeply grateful to our faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and community partners for all that you contribute to AIS. Your commitment, generosity, and support make our work possible.
As we look ahead to the coming year, I am excited about the opportunities before us and the continued growth of our department. Together, we will continue to support student success, strengthen our partnerships with Indigenous communities, and advance the important work of American Indian Studies.
On behalf of the Department of American Indian Studies, thank you for being part of our community.
We raise our hands to all of you.
In spirit,
Charlotte Coté, łuutiis (Tseshaht/Nuu-chah-nulth), Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of American Indian Studies
Read our Newsletter from Autumn 2025
Read our Newsletter from Spring 2025
Read our Newsletter from Autumn 2024
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