On March 25^th-26^th, Native Nations Institute and the American Indian Studies Department at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke hosted We Still Remain: A Conference Toward the Promotion of Southeast Indigenous Research, Scholarship, and Collaboration (WSRC). More than 50 participants joined over the two days to discuss a variety of topics that included data, research governance, health, and student support. A significant feature of the conference was the incorporation of community voices. Community members, students, and faculty discussed gaps in Southeast (SE) Indigenous research and offered solutions to build a network to elevate SE Indigenous voices.

Danielle Hiraldo (Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina), Senior Researcher, Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona, Mary Ann Jacobs (Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina) Chair and Associate Professor, American Indian Studies Department at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and Hannah Goins (Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina) 2^nd-year law student at the University of Arizona with the help of the Local Host Committee are considering ways to expand on the foundational network of participants and presenters to advance research and collaboration in the SE. The organizers and Local Host Committee found that there is a real desire to connect and network and we hope to not only highlight the research being conducted, but to create a space for more collaboration to occur and serve as a resource for southeastern Indigenous communities.

Join the Network

One of the outputs that participants recommended was to identify who is doing what in the area of SE Indigenous communities. We are putting together a roster of researchers, students, and community members doing work in this area. If you would like to be included, please complete this form. Additional outputs are forthcoming.

This opportunity was made possible through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Dear Colleague Letter: Build and Broaden: Enabling New Social, Behavioral and Economic Science Collaborations with Minority-Serving Institutions (BCS-2037256). Given that most state-recognized nations share geography with southeast states, this conference intersects with NNI’s governance under state recognition work.