On April 2, 2025, doctoral students, faculty mentors, and senior scholars convened in the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago for the inaugural Future Generations in Indigenous Political Science Research Workshop. Thez full-day event was a first-of-its-kind gathering in the discipline: a structured, intentional space focused on research and professional development for scholars studying Indigenous politics.
From the opening remarks to the final dinner toast, the workshop embodied the ethos its organizers envisioned—rigorous, generous, engaged, and a joyful expression of Indigenous knowledge. Co-led by Elise Blasingame (Emory University), Sonja Castañeda Dower (University of Chicago), and Tessa Provins (University of Arizona), the event brought together nearly a dozen graduate students and an equally committed group of faculty mentors to build a scholarly community where few currently exist.
“We wanted to create the kind of space we wish had existed when we were starting out,” said Provins, who chaired the welcome session. “There are very few places in political science where Indigenous governance, sovereignty, or intergovernmental relations are centered—especially from the perspective of early-career scholars.”
A Timely Intervention in a Neglected Field
The field of Indigenous politics remains strikingly underrepresented in political science. Native and Indigenous scholars—already vastly underrepresented in higher education—often find themselves isolated within their departments. Meanwhile, those who research Indigenous governance or Native Nations frequently lack disciplinary infrastructure for feedback and mentorship.
The Future Generations workshop was designed to address this gap. In her remarks, Castañeda Dower emphasized that neglect of Indigenous histories and institutions limits research across political science, shaping how governance, social movements, institutions, behavior, and methods are studied. She recognized the faculty present as leaders committed to more connected and responsible approaches, and the students as deeply embedded in communities and advancing perspectives long missing from the discipline.
“This workshop is not just about one day of panels,” said Castañeda Dower. It’s about growing the next generation of scholars who approach Indigenous politics with rigor, humility, and respect for Indigenous communities.”
The workshop welcomed both Native and non-Native PhD candidates whose work engages Indigenous politics and communities. Many participants identify as members of Native Nations and brought both academic and lived experience to their research. Faculty and students from the University of Chicago were joined by scholars from across the country. The following students presented their dissertation research:
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• Nicholas Brouwer, University of California, Merced
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• Leilani DeLude, University of New Mexico
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• Natalie Jones-Kerwin, University of Wisconsin–Madison
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• Hope Martinez, Georgia State University
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• Kim Moxley, Yale University
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• Alex Zhao, University of California, San Diego
Students drew on a wide mix of methods—causal inference, GIS mapping, archival research, interviewing, and surveying—often in combination and often rooted in community engagement and Native IRB processes. Topics ranged from Native political identity and assimilation policy to data sovereignty and political geography. Several presentations highlighted intersections of race, identity, and settler-colonial governance, including Hope Martinez’s Amongst the Bodies of Our Children: State Imposition onto Native Land and Sovereignty. Studies of political behavior were also featured, such as Natalie Jones-Kerwin’s analysis of Native American voter participation in Wisconsin.
“The workshop created an important opportunity to connect in person with professionals I had not previously met, who brought highly specialized perspectives that directly informed my dissertation work,” said Jones-Kerwin. “In a field like Indigenous politics, which is small but steadily growing, it was both encouraging and affirming to receive such thoughtful and constructive feedback. Equally meaningful was the chance to build relationships with other rising scholars whose work and commitments are shaping the future of the field.”
Each paper received in-depth feedback from two faculty mentors, who engaged presenters on theory, methods, and future directions. Students praised the unmatched generosity of faculty, noting not only the rigor of the critique but also the concrete guidance on building research programs, using methods rigorously and creatively, and positioning projects for publication.
More Than Research: Professionalization and Community
Beyond paper workshops, the event featured sessions on publishing, fieldwork, and job market preparation. A keynote by Megan Bang, Director of Northwestern University’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research, opened with reflections on research praxis in Indigenous contexts. The mid-day mentoring lunch created small-group opportunities for students to connect with faculty, while a roundtable on publishing addressed the opaque process of placing research on Indigenous politics in both general-interest and subfield journals.
A Historic Location, A Vision for the Future
Holding the workshop at the University of Chicago carried both symbolic and practical significance. The city has long been a hub for Native American activism, shaped by federal removal and urban relocation policies. The American Indian Chicago Conference of 1961—also hosted by UChicago—was a pioneering event that brought together several hundred members of Native Nations and helped reverse federal Indian Termination policy. Today, Indigenous community life in Chicago remains vibrant, with active connections to political advocacy and scholarship. Organizers collaborated with campus and local partners to honor this legacy, embedding the workshop within the city’s broader history of Indigenous activism.
Broad Support for Progress
The workshop was made possible by generous support from the American Political Science Association. Additional logistical and funding support came from several University of Chicago entities: the Center for Effective Government; the Chicago Center on Democracy; the Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity; the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture; the Division of Social Sciences; the Department of Political Science; and the Pozen Center for Human Rights. Crucial support also came from Claremont Graduate University, Northwestern University’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research, and the Union for Concerned Scientists.
Looking Ahead
Although this was the first Future Generations workshop, it will not be the last. Organizers aim to institutionalize the gathering, providing an annual venue where junior scholars in Indigenous politics can strengthen and showcase their work, ensuring continuity across generations.
The momentum is already visible. Several participants plan to organize future panels on Indigenous politics at APSA and other major conferences, while others are pursuing research collaborations sparked by the workshop. The organizers hope that students left not only with substantive feedback but also with new mentors, collaborators, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Photos from the day capture the spirit of the event: a packed workshop room overlooking UChicago, students deep in dialogue, laughter over lunch, and a group photo filled with the excitement of new beginnings. Together, they reflect a simple truth: when space is made, scholarship and community thrive.
