The MSU Tribal Outreach Project report reflects top priorities identified by Tribal communities and Native and Indigenous cultural, health, and education organizations across Michigan.
The report is the result of listening sessions between the Native American Institute (NAI) and Tribal partners inside and outside of MSU. “The process has helped renew and strengthen the bonds between MSU and our Tribal partners, and the results will help guide the NAI as we build on these relationships in the years to come,” said NAI Director Kevin Leonard, Ph.D.
Those conversations began in fall of 2022, when then Provost Teresa Woodruff appointed Leonard, then president of EAGLE (Educating Anishinaabe: Giving, Learning, Empowering) – MSU’s Native American faculty/staff association, as interim director of the NAI. He was charged with two primary directives: to bring stability back to the institute and conduct listening sessions with Tribal partners to determine their needs and wants from MSU and NAI. Prior to Leonard’s appointment, the NAI was operating amid distress, instability, and leadership transitions.
The NAI engaged Grassroots Solutions to develop and implement an outreach project that would help NAI/MSU gather and document input from the 12 federally recognized Tribes in Michigan; Native American and Indigenous cultural, educational, and health organizations; and the Native American and Indigenous community at MSU.
The intended use of this information was to inform NAI’s strategic vision and planning as well the hiring of a new director. The information gathering process also provided NAI the opportunity to foster new relationships and repair and renew existing bonds with MSU students, faculty, and staff as well as Tribal communities and organizers.
Between April and mid-June 2023, Grassroots Solutions facilitated 24 virtual and in-person conversations, referred to as listening and visioning sessions. The goal was to meet in person with all 12 of the federally recognized Tribes in Michigan. During this time frame, the team was able to meet with 11 of the 12 Tribes (see Appendix 2 on page 26 of report for details).
The final report, titled MSU Tribal Outreach Project, details each of the top priorities shared by Tribal communities and Native and Indigenous organizations. The report also provides a historical overview of the NAI, land-grant universities, and key treaties between Tribes and the state of Michigan and the U.S. government. Additionally, Grassroots Solutions offers recommendations for NAI, University Outreach and Engagement, and MSU to consider as they move forward in serving our Native Nations and their people. The link below will take you to the complete report.