In December 2016, two graduate students were awarded the NNI Graduate Student Research and Travel Funds. The Native Nations Institute first awarded the funding in June 2016 to four graduate students. Each student received $1,500 to support research and travel costs for students engaged in Indigenous nation building related projects.

Christina Ore de Boehm

Dr.P.H. student, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health

University of Arizona

“Despite the challenge posed by two different legal systems, Yaqui tribal leaders from the U.S. and Mexico are working together to fight for water and land rights. Exploring the Yaqui public health system at the interface of Indigenous and national public health systems in Sonora, Mexico is an opportunity for nation building that transcends the artificial border.”

Karla Bird

Ed.D. student, Educational Leadership

University of Montana

“Through my research topic and approach, I will be able to develop an Indigenous educational persistence theory that will contribute to nation building, by informing mainstream institutions on how to promote persistence in American Indian graduate students, who will become our future tribal leaders. In addition, this theory will provide the framework for tribal community colleges to potentially expand their programs to include higher level degrees.”
 

For more information, please visit Graduate Student Research and Travel Funding.