Native American Studies
About Our Program
She:kon - Greetings!
Explore Native American identity, land, and cultural preservation as you learn from the Mohawk people of the Indigenous territory of Akwesasne, located just 40 minutes from St. Lawrence’s campus.
In our program, you’ll examine issues affecting Native Americans from history to present day as you become an agent for social change. You’ll be inspired by faculty who are eager to harness your curiosity through Community-based Learning courses and research.
Learning Experiences to Prepare for Your Career
Extend your knowledge beyond the classroom and into the community by completing service and research projects.Community-based Learning
Located just 40 miles from campus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from educators, tribal government leaders, environmental specialists, healers, and other members of the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation.
Research
Dig deeper into Native American topics or pressing issues through research, either during the semester or as part of a paid summer fellowship.
You may even get to travel to two remote Indigenous villages like Jesse Lowell '19 did. He and professor Jon Rosales sampled driftwood to learn the approximate age and origin of trees. Using their findings and GPS data, they examined if storm intensities were increasing in the Arctic as the climate changes.
Community Service
You can also gain experience while making a difference through service work. Our students have volunteered as tutors at the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club, a local organization that offers after-school programming for youth.
Study Abroad
Choose from more than 30 semester-long programs offered in more than 20 international locations, including Trent University in Canada.
Among the 150+ clubs and organizations at St. Lawrence, you’ll find many that student studying Native American studies have been involved in, including:
- Native American Student Alliance
- Black Student Union
- Environmental Action Organization
- Model U.N.
- Outing Club
- Seed to Table
- St. Lawrence River Alliance
- SLU Legal
Why St. Lawrence for Native American Studies
miles from campus to Akwesasne, one of the original nations of the Iroqouis where you can gain first-hand experience
of students study more than one discipline
The number of days in Native American Heritage Month at St. Lawrence
Akwesasne Cultural Center
More than 2,000 Native American photographic objects at the Akwesasne Cultural Center that you’ll explore as part of your coursework
Graduates who studied Native American Studies found careers in:
- Education
- Tribal Government
- Federal Government
- Law
Ernest Kaientaronkwen Benedict
Ernest Kaientaronkwen Benedict, a respected Mohawk elder and chief of the Mohawk Council, graduated from St. Lawrence in 1940
More Program Information
Program Requirements & Courses
Explore native american studies minor requirements, as well as electives and combined study options.
Complementary and Related Programs
If you’re interested in Native American studies, you might also like these programs.
Native American Studies Faculty
Our faculty are historians, global travelers, scientists, and advocates united in their commitment to preserving Native American history.
“Native American studies allows for a particular type of critical lens. Employers appreciate that our students are aware of their own intersectionality and have a sense of what it is to be underrepresented.”
Martha Idalia Chew Sánchez, Ph.D.
Neil Forkey, Ph.D.
Randy Hill
Aswini Pai
Brenda Papineau
“I wanted to learn about different cultures that share similar values. It was really interesting to view the place where I grew up from an outsider’s perspective.”
Emma Phillips
Land Acknowledgement
St. Lawrence occupies the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee Nations. The United States is granted continued claim by the Iroquois Confederacy (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora) on this territory through a diplomatic relationship with the Iroquois Confederacy, beginning with the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794.
Community-Based Learning
Visit the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation just 40 miles from campus and connect with the Mohawk community. Students have made traditional beadwork, mentored children, and volunteered at the tribal museum.
Celebrate Native American Heritage
Celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native Americans. St. Lawrence students host Native American Heritage Month in November and an annual social dance in the Spring.
Get More Information
We’re excited to learn more about you, tell you more about our interdisciplinary academic programs, show you around our beautiful campus, and help you navigate your college search.
Apply to St. Lawrence
We’re looking for curious students who are eager to make a difference. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications and consider all aspects of your application and what we learn about you.