American Indian Studies
Welcome to the American Indian Studies Program
American Indian Studies is an interdisciplinary program that offers students an opportunity to explore the histories, cultures, and contemporary issues of the Native American nations and peoples.
Questions? Contact Us.
Penelope Anderson, Secretary Senior
Dean Hall 357A
About American Indian Studies
In our program, learn about the peoples, cultures, histories, and modern contributions of American Indian and Indigenous communities. Together, we seek to empower a generation of scholars, advocates, and leaders who will contribute to building a brighter future for all.
American Indian Studies Minor
Our American Indian Studies Minor offers exploration of Native American cultures, histories, and contemporary realities.
Explore our Program
The American Indian Studies Minor provides a strong foundation in Indigenous history, perspectives, and experiences—enhancing your understanding across a variety of academic and professional paths.
Rooted in interdisciplinary studies and cultural understanding, this minor complements majors in:
Land Acknowledgement
A land acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and pays respect to the Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories and ancestral homelands we occupy and whose resources we use.
Central Washington University acknowledges the people who have been on this land since time immemorial.
The Ellensburg campus is on lands ceded by the Pshwanapum and other bands and tribes of the Yakama Nation in the Treaty of 1855. The Yakama people remain committed stewards of this land, cherishing it and protecting it, as instructed by elders through generations. We are honored and grateful to be here today on their traditional lands, and give thanks to the legacy of the original people, their lives, and their descendants.