Indigenous Studies Program

Situated on Tutelo/Monacan territory, our program serves as a hub for Indigenous Studies at Virginia Tech, the commonwealth of Virginia, and beyond. We oversee the Indigenous Studies Minor, the Virginia Indigenous Studies Symposium, lectures, academic programming, and gatherings that connect world class interdisciplinary research to students and the public. Our goal is to provide an example for the execution of empowering, responsible, and collaborative research that works with Indigenous People, not on Indigenous People. 

We broadly define Indigenous people as communities whose ancestors are the original peoples of the land, waterways, or other features that they care for and live on, or that they have been displaced from. Though we are largely focused on Turtle Island (what is now called North America) and Abya Yala (what is now called Latin America), our interest goes beyond settler borders and explores the experiences of Indigenous people all over the globe. We are especially committed to serving the eleven Indigenous Nations whose territories are now claimed by the commonwealth of Virginia. 

Did you know that Witāhe means "friends" in Yesa:sahį, which is the language of the Yesàh, a term that includes people otherwise known as the Tutelo, Saponi, Occaneechi, Monacan, Eno, and Cheraw. If you would like to stay informed about Indigenous Studies at Virginia Tech, you can sign up for the listserv.