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2024 DEI 2.0 Plan Report

Honoring Article XVI: Native & Indigenous Engagement & Partnership

In the spirit of “nothing about us, without us,” the perspectives of all stakeholders were considered during the past year, which focused on engaging community support in order to: show respect for the Native American community; facilitate the success of Native students, staff and faculty; build stronger partnerships with Native tribal communities; and improve educational experiences and prospects for Michiganʻs Native peoples, now and for at least the next seven generations.

Click here to read the original Action Item

Progress to Date

In October 2023, the University of Michigan launched “Honoring Article XVI: Native & Indigenous Engagement & Partnerships,” aimed at supporting the visibility, vitality and wellbeing of Native American, First Nations and other Indigenous communities on campus and beyond. This past year, the focus was on engaging community members in the work of visioning, prioritizing and strategizing.

Ethriam Brammer, Assistant Dean of Rackham Graduate School, and Amy Stillman, Director of Native American Studies, convened two meetings that included faculty, staff, students and representatives from Michigan’s tribal nations. Both meetings centered on advancing inclusion for Native American and indigenous communities.

Based on these gatherings, the following recommendations were presented to President Ono:

1. Create a full-time Native American and Indigenous Affairs Senior Advisor position within the Office of the President responsible for:

  • Coordinating with campus units
  • Advancing initiatives of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Native American and Indigenous Affairs
  • Ensuring sustainable programming
  • Building mutually beneficial relations between U-M and surrounding tribal communities

2. Reestablish a presidential advisory committee on Native American and Indigenous Affairs to develop and execute a strategic action plan and coordinate with university leadership in serving the needs of U-M’s Native American and Indigenous communities.

Implementing these recommendations would establish crucial institutional infrastructure for strengthening current efforts and streamlining access to University resources for Native American and Indigenous initiatives, while also fostering the ongoing visibility and recognition of the presence of Native American and Indigenous communities at U-M.

In April 2024, President Ono endorsed the initial proposal and requested a more detailed proposal and budget for a five-year presidential initiative to guide the next phase of this work. Immediate next steps include drafting that proposal and continuing to engage with all co-owners of this DEI 2.0 action item to explore institution-wide opportunities that advance the priorities of Native American and Indigenous communities on campus and across Michigan.

Responsible Unit(s): The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, the Division of Student Life, the Office of Enrollment Management, Rackham Graduate School, the Office of the Vice President for Research, & Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, University of Michigan Library, University of Michigan Museum of Art