# Nation Building II ## expand\_more The Native Americans in the 21st Century: Nation Building II course addresses current issues facing Native & Indigenous nations or organizations and requires students to work directly with a client to conduct research or provide scholarly support to a project proposed by that client. These projects are a partnership between the community client and our students and provide an opportunity to study contemporary issues facing Indigenous nations and communities. [Full Course Description (HKS Site)](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/courses/native-americans-21st-century-nation-building-ii) [Recent Syllabus (PDF)](/file_url/495) #### [Propose a Project](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvhsAibvhoora6Bg1UyjkdKiQxiHB64iLLU9mYLw8aoRB8Kw/viewform) ### Recent Projects #### 2020 - Ka’ananiau, Managing the Beauty of Time, Waianae, Hawai’i - Intertribal Agriculture Council: CDFI Agricultural Lending, Billings, Montana - Santa Clara Pueblo: Kha’p’o Community Endowment, Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico - Chippewa Cree Business Development, Box Elder, Montana - Mapping Suicide Prevention Services, New Mexico - Metrics for STEM K-12 Education, Brimley, Michigan - Ho-Chunk: Multi-Generational Treatment Options, Black River Falls, Wisconsin - Strategies to Prevent Financial Exploitation of Tribal Elders, Fort Hall, Idaho - Sacred Site Protection, New Mexico - Southern Ute Indian Tribe: Cannabis Business Plan, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Colorado - Navajo Nation Business Development, Window Rock, Arizona #### 2021 - Toward Energy Sovereignty: Investigating Renewable Energy Investment for the Chippewa Cree Tribe on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Box Elder, Montana - Youth Hockey and Health Outcome Project, Canada - GLIFWC Member Tribe Groundwater Governance Report 2021, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Wisconsin, Michigan & Minnesota - Santa Clara Pueblo and the 2021 New Mexico Legislative Session: Policy and Financial Analysis, Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico - New Mexico Indian Affairs, Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Relatives Task Force, New Mexico - Overcoming the Distance: New Mexico Tribal Behavioral and Mental Health Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, New Mexico - Igyaramiuni Ciunerkaput: Stewardship Vision and Land Management Strategies for the Village of Igiugig, Igiugig, Alaska - Dual Taxation on Navajo Land Legal Frameworks and Economic Implications, Window Rock, Arizona - Quapaw Nation Land Use Plan, Quapaw Nation, Oklahoma #### 2023 - Dual Taxation Legislation on behalf of the Tribal Economic Tax Reform Advocacy Alliance - Measuring Prosperity and Wellbeing on Navajo Nation on behalf of Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development and the Dineh Chamber of Commerce - American Samoa Museum Scoping Project on behalf of ClearRock Sustainable Energy - Land Management & Permitting at the Bears Ears National Monument on behalf of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition - Treatment as State Status Under the Clean Water Act on behalf of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission - Rock the Canyon Arts and Music Festival on behalf of Building Communities and the Shonto Group - Digitization of Prioritized Government Services on behalf of Building Communities and the Navajo Nation - Hopi Governance Report (Where can we go from here?) on behalf of Building Communities and the Joint Village Strategic Planning (JVSP) Committee - Santa Clara Pueblo’s Scholarship Revisions and Automation on behalf of the Santa Clara Pueblo’s Department of Youth and Learning (DYL) - The Stronghold Long-Term Housing Strategy on behalf of The Stronghold - From Colonial Harm to Decolonial Healing on behalf of The Stronghold - The Development of Cannabis Production and Sales on behalf of the Eastern Bank of Cherokee Indians’ (EBCI) Qualla Enterprises ## 2025 Projects and Descriptions **Value of Subsistence Ways of Life / Chilkat Indian Village** Research and document the value of subsistence lifestyles and pristine watersheds to challenge state and federal claims of extractive industry benefits; support government-to-government advocacy and coalition-building. **Vivienda Digna: Sustainable Housing Solutions for Indigenous Communities in San Luis Potosí** Seeks to support Indigenous migrant communities by assessing housing and infrastructure needs, developing culturally appropriate and sustainable housing policies, creating long-term resource and planning strategies, and aligning recommendations with national and international Indigenous rights frameworks. **Enhancing Tribal Co-Management and Co-Stewardship in Offshore Wind Development / Tribal Climate Resilience Network** Develop frameworks for Tribal co-management of renewable energy and infrastructure projects to protect sovereignty, cultural heritage, and environmental interests; model for other regions. **Missing and Murdered Indigenous People: Follow the Law & Policy / International Women’s Media Foundation** Centralize and maintain accessible hub of policy, data, and research to support awareness, advocacy, and coordinated action on MMIP; ensure ongoing relevance and use. **Creating a Preferred Landlord Network to Support the Chickasaw Nation’s Housing Rental Assistance Program** Explore strategies to increase availability and quality of low-income housing for Tribal citizens; address landlord participation barriers and improve housing outcomes. **Rhythm & Ride Expansion / The Cultural Intelligence Project** Expand cultural and economic impact of flagship event in Northern Australia; enhance training, employment, and representation opportunities for Indigenous youth; explore domestic and international markets. **Traditional Owner Economy Investment Logic Framework / Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation** Develop and consolidate economic strategies to strengthen Traditional Owner Economy; enable culturally grounded self-determination and sustainable business growth. **Eastern Shoshone Tribe / Cultural Hub Development** Plan and design a centralized facility to consolidate cultural, educational, archival, and historic preservation resources; explore sustainable funding and best practices. **Eastern Shoshone Tribe / Governance Structure Reform** Generate an analysis of its current governance, explore successful tribal governance models, and develop recommendations for constitutional reform to streamline decision-making, enhance political stability, and build member consensus. **Eastern Shoshone Tribe / Language Revitalization through Technology** Leverage the tribe's online dictionary and language app by developing lesson plans, activities, and curriculum strategies that increase language fluency, usage, and cultural preservation across the community. **United Houma Nation / Tribal Resilience Plan** Implement Tribal Resilience Plan across five phases, including resilience hubs, communications, economic development, and community-led migration; enhance regional resilience and capacity-building. **Igiugig Village Council: Co-Management of National Parks/Lake Iliamna Region** Develop land management priorities, policy recommendations, and stewardship strategies for meaningful co-management; reinforce sovereignty, cultural preservation, and sustainable economic development. **Mashpee Wampanoag Land Planning and Use Committee: Recycling and Waste-To-Energy Plants** Establish Tribal wastewater and recycling infrastructure to restore water quality, recover resources, generate energy, and build Tribal economic independence. **The Stronghold: Native Peer-Run Curriculum** Develop culturally responsive, Native-focused peer curriculum for reentry/diversion; strengthen community support, criminal justice engagement, and public health connections. **Bay Mills Ojibwe Community/Department of Defense: Expanding Access and Awareness for the Great Lakes Region and Tribal Nations DoD K12 STEM Saturday Zoom Learning Sessions for Grade 6-9 Students** Expand virtual STEM education outreach to Tribal students; leverage social media and Tribal networks to increase engagement and participation. **Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi/Waséyabek Development Company, Best Practices and Grant Opportunities for Tribal Internships at Waséyabek** Research best practices and grant opportunities to build internship programs for Tribal Members; support career development, mentorship, and workforce growth. **Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi/Waséyabek Development Company, Bridging Cultures: A Comprehensive Guide to Engaging with Tribal Businesses** Develop white paper for non-Tribal businesses to navigate engagement with Tribal enterprises; increase awareness, collaboration, and economic growth in Indian Country. **Santa Clara Pueblo: Head Start Full Enrollment Initiative** Address under-enrollment by developing a comprehensive recruitment strategy, creating an under-enrollment action plan, and researching best practices to ensure sustained program growth and alignment with federal Full Enrollment goals. **Eastern Woodland Revitalization: Library and Research Portal** Build a comprehensive digital and physical archive to reclaim, preserve, and share traditional knowledge, practices, and cultural heritage of Eastern Woodland tribal communities. **Rocky Boy Health Center (Chippewa Cree Tribe): Mīyō Pimātisiwinkamik, (Good Life Lodge) Youth Center** Develop holistic youth center offering clinical, educational, cultural, and wellness programs; refine business plan, curricula, assessment tools, and food sovereignty initiatives. **Alaska Native Nations #Landback / Chilkat Indian Village** Research strategies for reclaiming Federal and State lands; analyze historical records, treaties, and jurisdictional issues to implement successful #LandBack initiatives. **Government-to-Government Consultation Process / Chilkat Indian Village** Explore strategies to improve government-to-government consultation between Alaskan tribes and the State; assess policy, regulations, and practices post-state recognition to enhance sovereignty.