Curriculum to Community
Applied Indigenous Studies (AIS) at NAU prepares students with the knowledge and tools to support the sustainability of Indigenous communities in the 21st century.
Through a “curriculum to community” approach, students move beyond the classroom to apply Indigenous ways of knowing in real-world settings—serving communities both across the United States and around the globe. Grounded in tradition and focused on the future, AIS is committed to developing leaders who will make an impact for generations to come.
AIS graduates are equipped to pursue meaningful careers across fields, including:
- Policy
- Administration
- Environmental science and management
- Planning and economic development
- Cultural resource management
- Tribal/Indigenous history
- Engineering
- Health sciences
- Indigenous sustainable building
- Tribal government
- Sustainable energy
Help Upgrade our Hogan
This Giving Day, you can make a difference by supporting the highlighted fund:
Did you know that NAU has a hogan, which is a traditional Diné (Navajo) social and ceremonial structure and space? AIS has charge of the hogan, which is used approximately 25 times a year by students, classes, families, student clubs, and social service agencies. Uses range from class sessions to social gatherings, receptions for visitors, traditional games, and ceremonies. Students report that these experiences are transformative for them, whether or not they are Navajo. Faculty note how the entire tenor of a class changes once we have met each other in this reverent space.
A gift to the AIS Director's Fund on Giving Day will allow us to make necessary improvements to the hogan. With a collective $5,000 raised, we can make significant upgrades, including:
- Improvements to seating
- Adding lighting - Having basic electrical service brought in for the first time!
- Upgrading furnishings such as a larger woodstove
- Repairing gaps in the exterior wall
Together, with your #AxeofKindness, we can ensure the hogan remains a comfortable and inspiring space for our campus community to have transformative experiences.
Thank You for Your #AxeOfKindness
Thank you for supporting Applied Indigenous Studies at NAU this Giving Day. Your #AxeOfKindness empowers students and strengthens communities.
Axhéhee', niá:wen'kó:wa, wado, kwa'khway. You have done your part and we will continue to do ours!
