The fourth annual Dave Larsen American Indian Immersion Experience, April 26-30 2018, will travel to Minnesota and Wisconsin to visit University of Minnesota-Duluth American Indian Studies program, Red Cliff, Madeline Island, Ashland College American Indian Studies program, Bad River, Lac Du Flambeau, Lac Courte Oreilles and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

This experience is a partnership between North Hennepin Community College, Robbinsdale Area Schools, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Columbia Heights School District, Anoka-Hennepin School District, Edina Public Schools, Mounds View Public Schools and several tribal nations and colleges including Leech Lake, Fond Du Lac, Red Lake, Prairie Island and the Upper and Lower Sioux Communities in Minnesota, and Red Cliff, Bad River, Lac du Flambeau and Lac Courte Oreilles in Wisconsin.

This immersive experience for American Indian high school and college students has been designed to provide students and staff with an up-close experiential education of some of the places, peoples and events throughout American Indian history that have helped shape and define Native America. The tour encourages students to develop and utilize their research skills and apply them to addressing issues such as colonization, treaty rights, racism, social movements, student activism, service learning, and political power learned in their everyday coursework or lived experiences. Students who participate in this immersive experience will be exposed to different educational pathways and opportunities with the goal of breaking down barriers for American Indian peoples in higher education.

Watch the documentary created by participants in the 2017 experience.

An IonE Mini-grant supported five University of Minnesota students and a staff member to participate in the 2017 American Indian Rights and Research Experience (AIRRE) along with students from other partnering institutions.

The experience is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Interested students: Apply now! 

Priority will be given to native students and those who apply as soon as possible. Deadline to apply is March 9th.

Questions?
Contact Beth Mercer-Taylor at bethmt@umn.edu who was staff for the trip in 2017 or
Brittany Anderson, branders@umn.edu who will be staff for the trip in 2018.