Events

• Upcoming Speakers 2006
• Indigenous Seminar Speakers 2006
• Indigenous Seminar Speakers 2005
• Indigenous Knowledges Seminar: The Institute will host a quarterly seminar to give faculty, students, and community members a chance to share cutting edge research. A major emphasis of this seminar will be to encourage the presentation of innovative, cross cutting ideas which are still being developed.
• Annual Workshop on Indigenist Practice: The Institute will sponsor an annual practice workshop that will include presentations by local and national experts on various aspects of practice with indigenous families and communities. The main goal of the workshop is to increase student and community understanding about indigenous models and frameworks for practice, the effects of colonization, and strategies for working collaboratively with indigenous communities. A major focus of the program will be on the strengths and resiliencies that keep indigenous communities healthy.
• Indigenous Wellness Conference: An international Institute conference will serve as a space for international scholars of indigenous social welfare to come together and share knowledge, research, and practice. Institute faculty and a committee of local professionals will work together to plan the conference.

Ongoing Activities

• Visiting Scholar Program: The Institute looks forward to creating a Visiting Scholar Program, encouraging and supporting indigenous scholars to come to the UW-SSW to collaborate with UW faculty and local indigenous groups for time-limited periods.
• Faculty support: The Institute will provide support to obtain release time from teaching or administrative tasks up to 25% FTE for faculty who wish to prepare a research proposal, project, or other project which furthers the mission of the Center.
• Student Research Development: We look forward to supporting the development of student research and learning in myriad ways. Students will be invited to work with faculty in developing and implementing Institute research initiatives; collaborating with the INIKHD network; and conducting community-based research. In addition, students will be encouraged to attend and present at Institute workshops and seminars. The Institute could also provide a vehicle for students to apply for NSF and NSRA grants from NIH.
• Curriculum Development. Institute faculty will work with SSW faculty and administration to further enhance and develop curriculum that is culturally relevant and responsive. Work in curriculum development would be broad-based (e.g. suggestions for indigenist content to include in every SSW class) and specific (e.g. development of new courses on indigenist issues). In addition, Institute faculty are interested in helping to develop an indigenist policy and services platform course in the future.