The Harvard University Native American Program's outreach efforts attempt to address needs of Native Americans and First Nations communities in a variety of ways. With active research into best practices, field-based research on problems faced by tribes and other Native organizations, and the ability to make available and accessible some of Harvard's resources to Native students and professionals, HUNAP works to serve the needs of our larger communities. While numerous (large and small) outreach efforts are undertaken on a daily basis, some of our major outreach efforts include:

Nation Building II

This field-based research course focuses on some of the major issues Native American tribes and nations face as we embark on a new century. It provides in-depth, hands-on exposure to Native development issues, including: sovereignty, economic development, constitutional reform, leadership, health and social welfare, land and water rights, culture and language, religious freedom, and education. In particular, the course will emphasize problem definition, field work relationships, and designing and completing a research project. This course is devoted primarily to preparation and presentation of a comprehensive research paper based on a field investigation. In addition to interdisciplinary faculty presentations on topics such as field research methods and problem definition, students will make presentations on their work progress and findings. This course is conducted in seminar style.

Honoring Nations:

Created in 1988, with support from the Ford Foundation, Honoring Contributions in the Governance of American Indian Nations (Honoring Nations) identifies, celebrates, and shares information about tribal government programs, practices and initiatives that are especially effective in addressing key needs, problems and challenges facing American Indian Nations. This program is administered by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.

Hopi High School Math and Science Summer Workshop

This summer, ten sophomores and juniors from Hopi High School participated in a workshop oriented towards exploring the implications of applying math and science to the world around them. They were hosted by faculty from the Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Design and were housed at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge . They explored science through diabetes research, mathematics, and architecture. This program aimed to not only encourage the pursuit of math and science, but also to make Harvard an imaginable place to pursue an education in those fields.

Four Directions Summer Research Program

Four Directions Summer Research Program (FDSRP) is a summer program run for Native American college students by Native American medical school student members of the Native American Health Organization at Harvard Medical School . A program specifically for Native Americans, designed by Native Americans, FDSRP turns eight years old this year, with 66 participants so far. The program hosts 10 participants each summer for eight weeks to engage in full-time research at HMS. FDSRP welcomes applicants who are interested in becoming familiar with the medical and research community at HMS and are seriously committed to helping their Native communities. Their vision is straightforward: that a handful of talented individuals will gain with new skills, experiences and knowledge that they can utilize to help themselves, their communities, and future generations of Native peoples form all four directions.

North American Indian Center of Boston

The mission of the North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB) is "to promote greater self-determination, socio-economic self-sufficiency, spiritual enhancement, intercultural under-standing and other forms of empowerment for the North American Indian Community and to assist North American Indians in obtaining an improved quality of life by providing health, job training, education, housing, and other related programs and social services."

Native American Youth Enrichment Program

The Native American Youth Enrichment Program (NAYEP) is the only urban intertribal summer camp for Native kids in the US . NAYEP is a 7-week summer program for Native American children ages 6-13 and serves children of all tribal ancestries from all across the Boston area. Senior counselors each lead a group of 8-10 children between 9 am and 4 pm on weekdays. Mornings are focused on curriculum and afternoons are usually reserved for field trips and constructive recreation (such as swimming lessons). Curriculum is developed by each senior counselor and therefore changes each summer, but all major academic areas are covered. A great deal of time is also spent focusing on Native culture, history, myth, and identity, as well as health and environmental issues, multiculturalism, and developing creativity.

NAYEP collaborates with the North American Indian Center of Boston , as well as the Peabody Museum of Harvard University to bring history and culture to life for our campers. NAYEP is one of the few places campers learn about their Native heritage, and while most of the campers are Mi'kmaq and Wampanoag, six tribes are represented in our campers.

Area Tribes