Education & Outreach Materials

NNI Educational Resources

NNI delivers comprehensive curricular materials to Indigenous leaders, tribal government employees, tribal college and university students, and others, in both self-paced and group learning environments. NNI hosts several free, online resources and offers fee-based, customized tribal services; executive education programs; an Indigenous governance graduate certificate and degree; continuing education credit options; and online nation-rebuilding courses.

FREE RESOURCES:

Indigenous Governance Database

Create a free account to access over 1,500 video, text, and audio resources featuring Native nation-rebuilding successes and challenges throughout Indian Country and within Indigenous communities worldwide.

 

Constitutions Resource Center

Learn how Native nations define, organize, change, and sustain written and unwritten constitutions.

Create a free Indigenous Governance Database account to access this resource.

US Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network

Join our network to promote Indigenous data sovereignty, learn about data governance-focused research, and support policy advocacy.

 

EDUCATION OPTIONS:

NNI delivers a range of research-based, educational services to help Native nations, Indigenous leaders, policy-makers, and scholars gain a better understanding of Indigenous governance concepts.

Customized Tribal Services & Executive Education

NNI helps Native nations plan and create customized educational sessions to rebuild and strengthen Indigenous governance systems. NNI also provides executive education programs to equip tribal leaders with Native nation-rebuilding knowledge and tools.

For more information, please complete our Tribal Services Request Form

Indigenous Governance Program

NNI offers several in-person and online education options through the Indigenous Governance Program (IGP) to best serve Indian Country’s needs. 

Indigenous Governance Graduate Program

The Indigenous Governance Graduate Program offers both a University of Arizona graduate certificate and an accredited Master’s of Professional Studies degree in Indigenous Governance.

Interested students should apply for admission into either the 12-credit Professional Studies Certificate (PSC) program, or the 30-credit Master's of Professional Studies (MPS) degree, offered through the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. PSC and MPS credits are offered during live January in Tucsonsessions, and additional credits may be earned via online courses, externships, capstone project or thesis writing. Students are encouraged to “make the program their own” and suggest possible research and/or practical projects that not only benefit their home communities, but that may be the basis for awarding credits towards the degree.

University of Arizona Financial Aid is available for both programs to those who qualify. 

January in Tucson

January in Tucson (JIT) is the largest annual, live event of its kind in the United States. JIT facilitates international dialogue among Indigenous leaders, tribal professionals, scholars, and others working with Indigenous nations around the world and provides access to cutting-edge, research tools on Indigenous rights and governance. JIT convenes intensive, 3-day classes, and awards University of Arizona degree credits or non-accredited, continuing education credits to participants. Citizens of Native nations are eligible to apply to JIT’s Tribal Professionals Cohort program that provides participants with scholarship funding and additional professional development opportunities.

Rebuilding Native Nations Online (RNN Online) Courses

Self-paced, online professional development courses examine critical governance and development challenges facing Native nations and survey Native nation-rebuilding efforts across Indigenous and Indian Country. RNN Online courses are used by the Native Governance Center as part of its “Native Nation Rebuilders Program;” by tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) as part of their course curricula; by tribal departments to train newly hired staff; by various tribal boards, commissions, and committees; and by individuals seeking to better understand the Native nation-building approach to Indigenous governance.