[nativestudies-l] Call for Proposal: Nation Building Projects for Harvard Course

[Lowe, Shelly C]

CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS

from Native and Indigenous Communities, Organizations, and Leaders


for NATION BUILDING II Course Projects


 


HUNAP and Nation Building II


HUNAP is one of Harvard's 17 Interfaculty Initiatives under the Office
of the President and Provost. Consistent with the Harvard University
Charter of 1650 calling for the "education of English and Indian youth,"
HUNAP has developed partnerships with established faculties at Harvard
to build viable programs of research, teaching, and outreach on issues
affecting the lives of Indigenous peoples. As part of this mission,
HUNAP funds the Nation Building II course offered in the Spring semester
through the Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard Graduate School
of Education.

A Nation Building II Project is a field based research project requested
by a Native American or Indigenous client or an organization that
focuses on a major issue facing Native American/Indigenous tribes and
nations. These projects are rooted in the "sovereign" choice of a
community to partner with a university to study an issue that community
is confronting.  Matters such as the effective exercise of
self-government and sovereignty, economic development, constitutional
reform, leadership, health and social welfare, land and water rights,
culture and language, religious freedom, or education.  The project is
completed by graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in Native
Americans in the 21st Century:  Nation Building II.  

Students in the course are not writing term papers for a scholarly
audience.  Rather, they are charged with doing research that is likely
to assist their client.  From the students' perspective, the learning
comes from figuring out the links between what they have studied in the
classroom and the real challenges that Native decision makers and
organizations face.  From the clients' perspectives, Nation Building II
Projects provide a source of assistance in the form of talented and
committed students with the capacities to look into problems and issues
that the pressure of daily events often prevents the client from
addressing.

Students participate in a weekly colloquium where they present their
work-in-progress to fellow students and faculty for comment and
feedback.  The lead faculty member for Nation Building II is HUNAP's
Faculty Chair, Prof. Dennis Norman, Harvard Medical School.

Students in Nation Building II are not paid for their work. Instead,
they produce their projects in fulfillment of course requirements and
under the guidance of faculty members with relevant expertise.  Students
typically work in teams of two, and HUNAP supports short-term field
visits by the student teams on an as-needed basis.  Over the last seven
years, more than 80 Nation Building II Projects have been completed on
behalf of tribes and Indigenous communities.  Examples of past projects
include:

*         Environment and Cultural Considerations for the Design of
Lakota High School: Pine Ridge, SD

*         Options for a Constitution: Heiltsuk First Nation, Bella
Bella, BC

*         Strengthening Families for the Future - Exploring Historical
Trauma at Mashantucket Pequot: Mashantucket, CT

*         Tribal Regulation of Genetic Research: One Sky Center,
Portland, OR

*         Strategy for Human Resources Development:  Crow Tribe of
Montana & Australian American Energy Company 

 

To Propose a Project (see attached forms)

1)      Review the Guidelines for Clients and Students to familiarize
yourself with what to expect from the course project and what is
required of you in terms of time and communication.

2)      Submit the application form and a written proposal clearly
addressing the scope and goal of the project to Professor Norman by
November 1st.

3)      Answer any follow-up questions and submit any additional
information by December 1st. 

 

All applications and proposals should be emailed to dnorman at partners.org
<mailto:dnorman at partners.org> . 

If email is not accessible, fax or send your application and typewritten
proposal to: 

Prof. Dennis Norman

Harvard University Native American Program


14 Story Street, Suite 400


Cambridge, MA 02138

 

Fax: (617) 496-3312

Telephone:  (617) 530-0550

 

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