Mercer Times

The arrival of J. Kēhaulani Kauanui at Princeton University as the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Professor of Indigenous Studies and professor of anthropology marks a significant development in the institution's efforts to enhance Native American and Indigenous studies. This appointment is part of a broader initiative to expand research, scholarship, and support for Native and Indigenous students and scholars.

Kauanui, who has previously taught at Wesleyan University, will have a joint appointment in the Effron Center for the Study of America and the Department of Anthropology. Her work focuses on Hawaiian indigeneity, Indigenous sovereignty, settler colonialism, anarchism, gender, and sexuality studies. She expressed enthusiasm about interdisciplinary collaborations with faculty and connections with students.

“I’m excited for the opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations with faculty and connections with graduate students and undergraduates,” she said.

Princeton offers various classes related to Indigenous peoples across different departments. These include courses like “Native American Literature” and “Indigenous Futures: Health and Wellbeing Within Native Nations.” Kauanui highlighted Princeton’s diverse faculty interest in these topics.

“When you look at Princeton’s initiatives, you can see a big tent of faculty from all different units who have an interest in these topics,” Kauanui said. “You also have faculty who aren’t necessarily appointed in Native American and Indigenous Studies but they have a commitment — both intellectually and ethically — to the study of Indigenous peoples.”

In addition to her academic responsibilities, Kauanui will support resources for Native students and help extend outreach efforts beyond campus. She will teach a seminar titled “Decolonizing Indigenous Genders and Sexualities” next spring.

“I am excited to work with the faculty, staff, and students who have been leaders on these issues at Princeton,” she said.

The university has several student groups such as Natives at Princeton that host events throughout the year. Additionally, Campus Dining organized special tasting events featuring chefs Lois Frank (Diné/Navajo) as part of Native American Heritage Month celebrations.

Karen Francis-Begay is serving as a consultant for The Carl A. Fields Center for Equality & Cultural Understanding to strengthen mentorship programs supporting Native students.

Princeton continues fostering dialogue through initiatives like NAISIP which hosts conferences such as "The Peoples’ Sky: A Symposium on Indigenous Peoples’ Astronomical Research." The university library also announced expanded curation focusing on Lenape history within its collections.

Since 2017 there has been collaboration between Princeton’s School Public International Affairs Santa Fe Indian School’s Leadership Institute providing educational opportunities tribal high schoolers studying government policies affecting communities while memorial garden dedicated honoring relationship original Lenape inhabitants land where stands today established last year along historical marker acknowledging origins diaspora erected grounds Prospect House