Tribal Nation Building and the Role of Faculty: Paying the Debt on Indigenous Well-Being in Higher Education

Abstract

Abstract:This article situates the experiences of faculty members, as tribal nation builders, within the academy of higher education. As creators of a 2020 convening on nation building in higher education, we ascertain the logic for interdisciplinary faculty collaboration as essential for performing and centering tribal nation-building efforts in higher education. We argue that the academy cannot honor its relationship with Indigenous lands and peoples without equitable investment in Indigenous faculty and curricular programs that engage deeply with Indigenous lifeways and lead restorative relationships with Indigenous communities and their citizens. As junior scholars using personal narrative to illuminate the complexities of advancing Indigenous programming, we propose investment in interdisciplinary work as a reflection of Indigenous knowledge. We conclude by highlighting ways for institutions to invest in Indigenous faculty and the co-conceptualization of nation building as a vital cornerstone of public education.