Native American Strategies Group

Mission 
The Native American Strategies Group is a volunteer coalition of faculty, staff, administrators, students, and community members that meets regularly to communicate, plan, and facilitate a holistic vision of service for the Native community. The group supports institutional capacity-building, intellectual community, curricular offerings, and efforts related to the recruitment, retention, and support of Native students, faculty, and staff at UO. 

Who Can Join 
Faculty, staff, administrators, students, and community members committed to supporting Native students, faculty, staff, and Native-related initiatives at UO.

Meeting Information 
First Fridays of the month from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Many Nations Longhouse. Get Connected 

Highlights 

  • Supports Native student recruitment, retention, post-graduation placement, career and professional development, wellness, and mentorship. 
  • Supports Native American and Indigenous Studies curricular development and community-building. 
  • Collaborates with campus and community partners on Native-related initiatives, programming, and support. 
  • Advocates for institutional support for Native students, faculty, staff, programs, and spaces. 

Recommended Accordion Content for Web Use accordions for this section to preserve detailed content while keeping the page easy to scan. Accordion: Mission & Vision 

  • Volunteer coalition of faculty, staff, administrators, students, and community members supporting a holistic vision of service for the Native community. 
  • Supports institutional capacity, intellectual community, curricular offerings, recruitment, retention, and support for Native students, faculty, and staff. 

Accordion: Recent Initiatives and Successes 

  • Supported implementation of the Home Flight Scholars Program and Home Flight Residential Community. 
  • Supported Native American and Indigenous Studies minor and major development. 
  • Celebrated the first NAIS major graduating cohort in 2024. 
  • Supported NAIS academic and residential community efforts, including the NAIS Academic Residential Community. 
  • Supported Native PRIDE Awards, Native Graduation Celebrations, research colloquia, and Indigenous-focused speaker programming. 
  • Supported Indigenous Studies exchange opportunities and student conference participation, research funding, and recognition. 

Accordion: Initiatives in Progress 

  • Working with AVP&A and University Development on strategic fundraising to support Native students and Native-related initiatives, programming, and support. 
  • Increasing Native student recruitment, retention, post-graduation placement, career and professional development, wellness, and mentorship. 
  • Supporting the First Foods and Medicines Garden at the Many Nations Longhouse in partnership with campus and community partners. 
  • Supporting Indigenous public art efforts and collaborative work related to Federal Indian Law. 

Accordion: Future Priorities and Needs 

  • Increase resources and institutional support for Native student outreach, recruitment, retention, and success. 
  • Support additional faculty hiring in Native-related areas across campus. 
  • Continue advocacy for Many Nations Longhouse support and expansion. 
  • Support stable, long-term Elders, Scholars, and Artists-in-Residence programming. 
  • Support stable, long-term support for Sapsik’wala Education Program. 
  • Develop Native alumni relations through Native Duck Nation.