Commencement including Native American in traditional clothing

Native American Studies

About Our Program

She:kon - Greetings! 

Explore Native American identity, land, and cultural preservation as you learn from the Mohawk people of the Indigenous territory of Akwesasne, located just 40 minutes from St. Lawrence’s campus.

In our program, you’ll examine issues affecting Native Americans from history to present day as you become an agent for social change. You’ll be inspired by faculty who are eager to harness your curiosity through Community-based Learning courses and research.

Program Offerings

  • Minor

Department

Learning Experiences to Prepare for Your Career

Extend your knowledge beyond the classroom and into the community by completing service and research projects.

Community-based Learning 

Located just 40 miles from campus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from educators,  tribal government leaders, environmental specialists, healers, and other members of the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation. 

Research

Dig deeper into Native American topics or pressing issues through research, either during the semester or as part of a paid summer fellowship. 

You may even get to travel to two remote Indigenous villages like Jesse Lowell '19 did. He and professor Jon Rosales sampled driftwood to learn the approximate age and origin of trees. Using their findings and GPS data, they examined if storm intensities were increasing in the Arctic as the climate changes.

Community Service

You can also gain experience while making a difference through service work. Our students have volunteered as tutors at the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club, a local organization that offers after-school programming for youth.

Explore Volunteer Opportunities

Study Abroad

Choose from more than 30 semester-long programs offered in more than 20 international locations, including Trent University in Canada.

Explore Study Abroad Programs

Among the 150+ clubs and organizations at St. Lawrence, you’ll find many that student studying Native American studies have been involved in, including: 

  • Native American Student Alliance 
  • Black Student Union
  • Environmental Action Organization 
  • Model U.N. 
  • Outing Club
  • Seed to Table
  • St. Lawrence River Alliance
  • SLU Legal

View Clubs & Organizations

Why St. Lawrence for Native American Studies

40

miles from campus to Akwesasne, one of the original nations of the Iroqouis where you can gain first-hand experience

80%

of students study more than one discipline

30

The number of days in Native American Heritage Month at St. Lawrence

Native American objects

Akwesasne Cultural Center

More than 2,000 Native American photographic objects at the Akwesasne Cultural Center that you’ll explore as part of your coursework

Graduates who studied Native American Studies found careers in:

  • Education
  • Tribal Government
  • Federal Government
  • Law

Benedict

Ernest Kaientaronkwen Benedict

Ernest Kaientaronkwen Benedict, a respected Mohawk elder and chief of the Mohawk Council, graduated from St. Lawrence in 1940

More Program Information

Program Requirements & Courses

Explore native american studies minor requirements, as well as electives and combined study options.

Complementary and Related Programs

If you’re interested in Native American studies, you might also like these programs.

St. Lawrence and Akwesasne flags

Land Acknowledgement

St. Lawrence occupies the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee Nations. The United States is granted continued claim by the Iroquois Confederacy (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora) on this territory through a diplomatic relationship with the Iroquois Confederacy, beginning with the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794.

People dancing

Community-Based Learning

Visit the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation just 40 miles from campus and connect with the Mohawk community. Students have made traditional beadwork, mentored children, and volunteered at the tribal museum.

Students in front of an Akwesasne flag

Celebrate Native American Heritage

Celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native Americans. St. Lawrence students host Native American Heritage Month in November and an annual social dance in the Spring.

Get More Information

We’re excited to learn more about you, tell you more about our interdisciplinary academic programs, show you around our beautiful campus, and help you navigate your college search.

Apply to St. Lawrence

We’re looking for curious students who are eager to make a difference. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications and consider all aspects of your application and what we learn about you.