Celebrating 30 Years of CNAS @ NMU - Center for Native American Studies

For three decades, Northern Michigan University's Center for Native American Studies (CNAS) has empowered students from every academic discipline by honoring Indigenous ways of knowing, celebrating Native cultures, and fostering meaningful dialogue. Its impact extends far beyond the classroom. The Center's legacy is reflected not only in the success of its graduates, but also in the communities it has strengthened, the traditions it has helped sustain, and the understanding it has inspired.

Home to Michigan's first and only bachelor's degree dedicated solely to Native American Studies, CNAS is both an academic program and a vibrant cultural center. It serves as a gathering place for makers, cultural and environmental stewards, storytellers, artists, scholars, and advocates, a welcoming space where Native students find community and all students are invited to engage with Indigenous histories, cultures, and perspectives through respect, curiosity, and shared learning.

Thirty years after its inception, the Center remains a place where culture, community, and education come together. By creating opportunities to learn and connect, CNAS at NMU continues to empower students to make a lasting impact wherever their paths lead.