Native American and Indigenous Studies
Students in the Five College Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) certificate program draw on the resources of not one campus but five, benefiting from a wide variety of courses exploring Native American and Indigenous histories, literatures, cultures and contemporary issues that are taught within the consortium each year.
“The Five College Native American and Indigenous Studies Certificate Program has been very influential and important to my college experience, and it was one of the first communities I truly felt part of. In addition to being my support system, the program has helped me see myself as an activist scholar.”
—Mimi Linares-Ramirez, Smith College ’15
On This Page
Affiliated Faculty
Lisa Brooks (advisor)
Specialties: literature, history, New England
Email | Website
Kiara M. Vigil (advisor)
Specialties: cultural history, 19th and 20th centuries, cultural representations of and by Native people in the U.S.
Email | Website
Manuela Picq
Specialties: world politics, Latin America, extractivism, gender and sexualities
Email | Website
Noah Romero (advisor)
Email | Website
Robert Caldwell
Specialties: transnational history, foodways, migration history, resistance and revolutions, historical geography, cartography, and the history of exploration and "discoveries"
Email | Website
Sylvia Cifuentes
Email | Website
Patricia Dawson
Email | Website
Mary Renda (advisor)
Email | Website
Lauret Savoy (advisor)
Specialties: environmental history, narratives of race and place, North America
Email | Website
Sabra Thorner
Email | Website
Christen Mucher (advisor)
Specialties: history, material culture, Ohio Valley
Email | Website
Yancey Orr
Specialties: Indigenous communities, environmental knowledge, technology and communications
Email | Website
Kathleen Brown-Perez (advisor)
Specialties: federal Indian law, criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country, tribal sovereignty, federal acknowledgement of tribes, identity
Email | Website
Sonya Atalay
Specialties: community-based participatory research methods, repatriation and protection of cultural heritage
Email | Website
Paul Barten
Specialties: northern forests, environmental history, traditional ecological knowledge
Email | Website
Seth Cable
Specialties: linguistics, language documentation, Alaska
Email | Website
Donal Carbaugh (emeritus)
Specialties: communication of Indigenous culture/ecology, Blackfeet/Pikuni (Montana)
Email | Website
Abigail Chabitnoy
Specialties: creative writing, poetry and poetics, gender and sexuality, theory and cultural studies
Email | Website
Jean Forward (emerita)
Specialties: education, applied anthropology/activism
Email
Laura Furlan
Specialties: Indigenous literatures of the U.S., place/space in literature, autobiography/creative nonfiction
Email | Website
Alice Nash
Specialties: history, New England, teaching
Email | Website
Samuel Redman
Specialties: history, history of museums, U.S.
Email | Website
Peggy Speas (emerita)
Specialties: Indigenous languages of North America, language revitalization, Navajo
Email
Stan Stevens
Specialties: political ecology of conservation, rights-based conservation, traditional ecological knowledge and socioeconomic systems
Email | Website
Ron Welburn (emeritus)
Specialties: literature, ethnohistory (eastern North America), Native jazz
Email | Website
Amherst College
Lisa Brooks (advisor)
Specialties: literature, history, New England
Email | Website
Kiara M. Vigil (advisor)
Specialties: cultural history, 19th and 20th centuries, cultural representations of and by Native people in the U.S.
Email | Website
Hampshire College
Noah Romero (advisor)
Email | Website
Mount Holyoke College
Mary Renda (advisor)
Email | Website
Lauret Savoy (advisor)
Specialties: environmental history, narratives of race and place, North America
Email | Website
Smith College
Christen Mucher (advisor)
Specialties: history, material culture, Ohio Valley
Email | Website
UMass Amherst
Kathleen Brown-Perez (advisor)
Specialties: federal Indian law, criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country, tribal sovereignty, federal acknowledgement of tribes, identity
Email | Website
Certificate
Students in the Five College Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) certificate program draw on the resources of not one campus but five, benefiting from a wide variety of courses exploring Native American and Indigenous histories, literatures, cultures and contemporary issues that are taught within the consortium each year.
The certificate furnishes an excellent foundation on which to build a professional career, graduate work or research. Its requirements provide a strong grounding while each student works closely with a faculty advisor to design an individualized course of study.
In pursuing the certificate, you will:
- Learn the depth and breadth of Indigenous methodologies and their applications to the most pressing issues of today
- Critically approach the field through engagement with Native and Indigenous intellectual traditions, histories and cultures
- Undertake meaningful research in archives, on the land and with communities
- Work with leading scholars across multiple fields, as well as with visiting tribal scholars
- Understand the unique sovereign status of Native and Indigenous peoples, the complexity of Indigenous legal and political systems and the many facets of U.S. and international law and policy
The NAIS certificate is available to undergraduate students at Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Please note that the certificate cannot be completed online.
Certificate Requirements
No application is necessary prior to beginning the certificate, but students can fill out the Interest Form to participate in the Program. Your campus advisor can help you design an interdisciplinary program of study. No formal enrollment is necessary to pursue your study. To receive the Certificate, you must demonstrate that you have fulfilled the requirements prior to graduation.
At least seven courses are required for completion of the Five College Certificate in Native American and Indigneous Studies: a foundation course plus six additional courses, with no more than three of the seven courses from a single discipline (such as Anthropology or Literature). Requirements are as follows:
- One foundation course: Offered at various levels, foundation courses provide an opportunity to hear Native perspectives and are taught from a philosophical perspective that reflects Native Studies theories, pedagogies and methodologies. They foster: 1) respect for Native intellectual perspectives during the course of their ongoing histories; 2) a grounding in perspectives on life derived from the diversity of philosophies found in contemporary Native communities; and 3) an understanding of colonialism and its impacts on the contested sovereignties and associated struggles of Native communities. Consult with your NAIS advisor or the Program Chair to identify the appropriate foundations course.
- Six additional courses: Students must complete at least six additional courses, selected in consultation with your campus advisor. These may include courses from study abroad.
- Grades: Students must receive a grade of B or higher in all seven courses to receive a Certificate.
Students are encouraged to use the Certificate Completion Form (below) to consult with their certificate advisor, plan for both which courses to take and for completing all certificate requirements. Students are expected to finalize this form with their certificate advisor and attach a copy of their unofficial transcript during the final semester of their senior year: no later than November 1 for fall/January graduates, and April 1 for spring/May graduates.
Courses
Note that if you don't see classes from all campuses currently listed, they will appear as the campuses release their course schedules for the semester. The five campuses release their schedules on different dates. Visit this page for specific dates.
Spring 2025 Native American and Indigenous Studies Foundation Courses
| Subject | Course # | Sect # | Course Title | Instructor(s) | Institution | Meeting Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMST | 355 | 01 | Reading Land | Lisa Brooks | Amherst College | F | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
| CSI | 0145 | 1 | Indige & Decolonizing Pedagogy | Noah Romero | Hampshire College | 09:00AM-10:20AM TU;09:00AM-10:20AM TH |
| ENVST | 254 | 01 | Climate Humanities | Sylvia Cifuentes | Mount Holyoke College | TTH 10:30AM-11:45AM |
| LEGAL | 460 | 01 | Legalization of Amer Indians | Kathleen Brown-Perez | UMass Amherst | M W 2:30PM 3:45PM |
Spring 2025 Native American and Indigenous Studies Courses
| Subject | Course # | Sect # | Course Title | Instructor(s) | Institution | Meeting Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMST | 312 | 01 | BIPOC Children | Solsiree del Moral | Amherst College | W/F | 12:30 PM - 1:50 PM |
| AMST | 328 | 01 | Indigenous Narratives | Ellen Boucher | Amherst College | TU | 9:00 AM - 11:20 AM |
| AMST | 328 | 01L | Indigenous Narratives | Ellen Boucher | Amherst College | TH | 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM |
| EDST | 312 | 01 | BIPOC Children | Solsiree del Moral | Amherst College | W/F | 12:30 PM - 1:50 PM |
| EDST | 328 | 01 | Indigenous Narratives | Ellen Boucher | Amherst College | TU | 9:00 AM - 11:20 AM |
| EDST | 328 | 01L | Indigenous Narratives | Ellen Boucher | Amherst College | TH | 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM |
| ENGL | 273 | 01 | Black Writers | Frank Leon Roberts | Amherst College | M/W | 3:00 PM - 4:20 PM |
| ENGL | 493 | 01 | Literary Fieldwork | Nozomi Nakaganeku Saito | Amherst College | TU | 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM |
| HIST | 328 | 01 | Indigenous Narratives | Ellen Boucher | Amherst College | TU | 9:00 AM - 11:20 AM |
| HIST | 328 | 01L | Indigenous Narratives | Ellen Boucher | Amherst College | TH | 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM |
| CSI | 0209 | 1 | Gender Justice in Economies | Marina Durano | Hampshire College | 09:00AM-10:20AM M;09:00AM-10:20AM W |
| CSI | 0221 | 1 | Indigenous Anarchy | Noah Romero | Hampshire College | 10:30AM-11:50AM TU;10:30AM-11:50AM TH |
| HIST | 180 | 01 | Intro to Latin American Cultrs | Dimaris Barrios-Beltrán | Mount Holyoke College | TTH 09:00AM-10:15AM |
| AMS | 205 | 01 | IntroNativeAmer&IndigStudies | Kaden Jelsing | Smith College | TU TH 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM |
| AMS | 215ir | 01 | Colq:T-IndigenClimateResil | Kaden Jelsing | Smith College | W 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM; M 3:05 PM - 4:20 PM |
| AMS | 245 | 01 | Feminist & Indigenous Science | Evangeline Heiliger | Smith College | TU TH 1:20 PM - 2:35 PM |
| ENV | 113 | 01 | Colq:OrganicMechanDigitl | Yancey Orr | Smith College | TU TH 1:20 PM - 2:35 PM |
| ENV | 221 | 01 | Colq:Native Amer & Indigenous | Yancey Orr | Smith College | TU TH 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM |
| ENV | 311 | 01 | Environmental Info | Susan Stratton Sayre | Smith College | M W 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM |
| ANTHRO | 652 | 01 | Community-Based Archaeology | Anna Antoniou | UMass Amherst | M 2:30PM 5:15PM |
| ENGLISH | 373 | 01 | American Indian Literature | Laura Furlan | UMass Amherst | TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM |
| HONORS | 322H | 01 | Criminal Law & Justice in US | Kathleen Brown-Perez | UMass Amherst | TU TH 8:30AM 9:45AM |
| LEGAL | 460 | 01 | Legalization of Amer Indians | Kathleen Brown-Perez | UMass Amherst | M W 2:30PM 3:45PM |
| NRC | 225 | 01 | Forests and People | John Scanlon | UMass Amherst | M W F 12:20PM 1:10PM |
Regularly Offered Courses
To help students plan for how they will complete the certificate requirements, below you will find a list of regularly offered Native American and Indigenous Studies courses. Consult with your advisor to see if other courses may count, and to learn more about how to plan a course of study that fits your interests and takes advantage of the breadth and depth of offerings across the five campuses.
| Institution | Instructor(s) | Course Title | Subj / Course # |
| Amherst | Lisa Brooks | Native American Literature: Decolonizing Intellectual Traditions | ENGL 274 / AMST 274 |
| Amherst | Kiara M. Vigil | Rethinking Pocahontas: An Introduction to Native American Studies | AMST 240 |
| Hampshire | Introduction to Native Studies | CSI 163 | |
| Hampshire | Noah Romero | Indigenous and Decolonizing Education | CSI 143 |
| Hampshire | Noah Romero | Indigenous and Decolonizing Pedagogy | CSI 145 |
|
Institution |
Instructor(s) |
Course Title |
Subj / Course # |
|
Amherst |
Lisa Brooks |
Global Valley |
AMST 111 |
|
Amherst |
Kiara M. Vigil |
Rethinking Pocahontas: An Introduction to Native American Studies (Foundation Course) |
AMST 240 |
|
Amherst |
Lisa Brooks |
When Corn Mother Meets King Corn: Cultural Studies of the Americas |
AMST 280 / ENGL 273 |
|
Amherst |
Kiara M. Vigil |
Red/Black Literature: At the Crossroads of Native American and African American Literary Histories |
AMST 320 |
|
Amherst |
Kiara M. Vigil |
Natives in Transit: Indian Entertainment, Urban Life, and Activism, 1930-1970 |
COLQ 246 |
|
Amherst |
Kiara M. Vigil |
History of the Native Book |
FYSE 129 |
|
Smith |
Christen Mucher |
Trade and Theft: Colonialism in North America |
AMS 226 |
|
Smith |
Christen Mucher |
Native New England |
AMS 229 |
|
Smith |
Christen Mucher |
Native Literacies |
AMS 253 |
|
Smith |
Christen Mucher |
Empire and American Studies |
AMS 340 |
| Institution | Instructor(s) | Course Title | Subj / Course # |
| UMass | Indigenous Spring Break | ANTHRO 397 | |
| UMass | Sonya Atalay | Indigenous Archaeology | ANTHRO 597 |
| UMass | Sonya Atalay | Indigenous Method and Theory | ANTHRO 697 |
| UMass | Native American Nations of the Northeast | FFYS 197 |
| Institution | Instructor(s) | Course Title | Subj / Course # |
| Amherst | Lisa Brooks | Native American Literature: Decolonizing Intellectual Traditions (Foundation Course) | ENGL 274 / AMST 274 |
| Amherst | Lisa Brooks | American Origins | ENGL 350 / AMST 350 |
| Amherst | Lisa Brooks | Indigenous American Epics | ENGL 458 / AMST 358 |
| Amherst | Lisa Brooks | The Spiral of Time in Native American Novels | ENGL 459 |
| UMass | Laura M. Furlan | Introduction to Native American Literature | ENGLISH 116 |
| UMass | Native American Literatures | ENGLISH 116 | |
| UMass | Laura M. Furlan | Autobiography Studies (Native Autobiography) | ENGLISH 341 |
| UMass | Laura M. Furlan | American Indian Literature | ENGLISH 373 |
| UMass | American Indian Literature | ENGLISH 373 |
| Institution | Instructor(s) | Course Title | Subj / Course # |
| Hampshire | Indigenous Environmental Activism | CSI 240 | |
| Mount Holyoke | Perspectives on American Environmental History | ENVST 317 | |
| UMass | Stan Stevens | Indigenous Peoples and Conservation | GEOGRAPH 450 |
| UMass | Paul K. Barten | Forests & People | NRC 225 (with NRC 396 enrichment) |
| UMass | Paul K. Barten | Cree Culture, Environmental Studies, and Sustainability | NRC 579 |
| Institution | Instructor(s) | Course Title | Subj / Course # |
| Amherst | Edward Melillo | History of the Pacific World, 1898-Present | HIST 410 |
| UMass | Samuel J. Redman | US History since 1876 | HISTORY 151 |
| UMass | Alice Nash | Indigenous Peoples of North America | HISTORY 170 |
| UMass | Alice Nash | Native American Activism in the Northeast | HISTORY 393A |
| UMass | Alice Nash | Indigenous Women | HISTORY 393I |
| UMass | Alice Nash | Indigenous Peoples in Museums and Archives | HISTORY 491G |
| UMass | Alice Nash | Indigenous Peoples and the U.N. | HISTORY 493P / 693P |
| UMass | Alice Nash | Rethinking 1620 |
| Institution | Instructor(s) | Course Title | Subj / Course # |
| UMass | Donal Carbaugh | Cultures in Conversation | COMM 492G |
| Institution | Instructor(s) | Course Title | Subj / Course # |
| Hampshire | Jennifer Hamilton | Landscapes of Indigeneity: Indigenous Peoples and Law in North America | |
| UMass | Kathleen Brown-Perez | Criminal Law | HONORS 322H |
| Institution | Instructor(s) | Course Title | Subj / Course # |
| Hampshire | Introduction to Native American Studies (Foundation Course) | CSI 163 |
Contact Us
Certificate Program Chair:
Noah Romero, Assistant Professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies, Hampshire College
Five College Staff Liaison:
Ray Rennard, Director of Academic Programs
Join our community of scholars!
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