Native American Studies

Welcome to Native American Studies

Welcome to the Native American Studies (NAS) program in the Ethnic Studies Department at Sac State! NAS is an interdisciplinary academic field continuing a more than 50-year legacy of activist scholars educating students and the public about tribal sovereignty, cultures, and critically examining and contextualizing historical and contemporary lived experiences of Native peoples and nations. We follow in the footsteps of Native American intellectuals and students in the academy who gathered in 1970 at the Convocation of American Indian Scholars at Princeton University. Those in attendance at this milestone event maintained the intention of Native American Studies/American Indian Studies is defense of the land, tribal sovereignty, and Native American rights. In addition, the field recognizes the expertise and knowledges embedded in tribal cultural practices and the land. NAS is committed to building strong relationships with tribal nations as we work to fulfill our responsibility to tribal nations and peoples, through respectful partnerships, research, and consultation.

NAS promotes critical thinking, writing, and communication skills that are rooted in Native American knowledge systems and community involvement. Studying the diverse United States-based Native American experiences helps students comprehend the unique social, cultural, historical, legal, and political relationships between federal, tribal, and state governments. NAS academic excellence is rooted in educating all students and the public. NAS graduates contribute to the workforce, including preparation for leadership in tribal nations and organizations. Courses include community engagement with guest presentations, tribal based research, and service-learning.

Major Concentration and Minor

BA in Ethnic Studies (Native-American Studies)

Minor in Native American Studies

Native American College

Meet the Faculty

Rose Soza War Soldier, Ph.D., Director of Native American Studies

Brian Baker, Ph.D., Chair of Department of Ethnic Studies

Amber Bill, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Anthony Burris, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Erika Salinas, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Annette Reed Ph.D., Dean of Native American College

image of native american studies faculty

Native American Studies Advising

Please contact Dr. Soza War Soldier, at rose.sozawarsoldier@csus.edu or call 916-278-4977 or visit Amador Hall 554C.

If you have a Native American Studies minor, download this checklist to track your course schedule!

Upcoming Events

Coming Soon!

Native American Studies Courses

Coming Soon!

Recent Faculty Publications & Interviews

Amber Bill, “Native Activism, Tribal Water Rights, and the Treaty of Ruby Valley,” interview by Francisco Dominguez, host of Radio Informar, KDVS Public Affairs 90.3 FM, November 21, 2024. https://drive.google.com/file/d/111rDHvIp2RkZ9hPRoX_vwKh5y3k1m1jc/view?usp=drive_web

Courtney Ann Coyle, Melodi McAdams, & Anthony Burris, Hidden Costs in the Repatriation Crisis: Bringing to Light and Correcting the Externalization of Costs to California Tribes, California Indian Law Association, Inc. Legal Journal, Fall 2023 pp. 8-23.

Anthony Burris contributor (interviewee) to podcast “Challenging Colonialism,” by Martin Rizzo-Martinez & Daniel Stonebloom, NAGPRA series, https://rss.com/podcasts/challengingcolonialism/
- “You Have Disturbed Our Ancestors” 5/16/23
- “Bury Them With Dignity” 6/13/23
- “This Work has to be Done” 7/17/23

Anthony Burris interview resulting in Jacob Peterson, “Archaeological curation facility working with Native tribes to recover remains,” The State Hornet, November 21, 2022. https://statehornet.com/2022/11/archaeological-curation-facility-working-with-native-tribes-to-recover-remains/

Palinkas, & Cooper, B. R., De Leon, J., Salinas, E. (2023). Mixed Methods Evaluation in Dissemination and Implementation Science. Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health. Oxford University Press.

Palinkas, L., Hurlburt, M., Fernandez, C., De Leon, J., Yu, K., Salinas, E., Garcia, E., Johnston, J., Rahman, M., Silva, S., & McConnell, R. (2022). Vulnerable, Resilient, or Both? A Qualitative Study of Adaptation Resources and Behaviors to Heat Waves and Health Outcomes of Low-Income Residents of Urban Heat Islands. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11090), 11090–. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36078804/

Soto, Ramos, G., Martinez, D., Moerner, L., Salinas, E., Battle, R., & Yerger, V. (2021). A Qualitative Assessment of the Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Commercial Tobacco Policies and Education Among Tribal Communities in California. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 48(1), 49–57. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34670446/

Palinkas, De Leon, J., Salinas, E., Chu, S., Hunter, K., Marshall, T. M., Tadehara, E., Strnad, C. M., Purtle, J., Horwitz, S. M., McKay, M. M., & Hoagwood, K. E. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Policy and Practice Implementation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), 9622–. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34574547/

Soto, C., Baezconde-Garbanatti, L., Martinez, D., Salinas, E., De Santiago, A., Moerner, L. (2021). Understanding the Tobacco Retail Environment on Tribal Lands in California. https://keck.usc.edu/i-caihre/wp-content/uploads/sites/84/2024/02/TCORS-Report-08-06-21-1-compressed.pdf

Rose Soza War Soldier interview resulting in Sacramento News & Review, December 28, 2023, https://sacramento.newsreview.com/2023/12/28/sacramento-area-colleges-still-holding-onto-to-native-american-bones-and-artifacts-are-about-to-face-the-law/

Rose Soza War Soldier interview resulting in Diverse Issues in Higher Education, November 9, 2023, https://www.diverseeducation.com/from-the-magazine/article/15637646/renewed-push-apace-to-return-native-american-remains

Rose Soza War Soldier, in Terria Smith, ed. Know We Are Here: Voices of Native California Resistance. Berkeley, California: Heyday, 2023.https://www.heydaybooks.com/catalog/know-we-are-here/

Rose Soza War Soldier, “And it’s time for them to come down”: History, Memory, and Decentering Settler Colonialism,” in Brian Baker, ed. et. al, Introduction to Ethnic Studies, Dubuque, Iowa, 4^th edition, Kendall-Hunt Publishing Company, 2022.

Rose Soza War Soldier, “Tilted history is too often taught”: Activism, Advocacy, and Restoring Humanity,” in Lara-Cooper, Kishan, and Walter J. Lara, eds. Ka’m-t’em: A Journey toward Healing. Great Oak Press, 2019. https://kamtem-indigenousknowledge.com/

Campus Resources

Ensuring Native Indian Traditions (ENIT) Student Club

Esak’timá Center

Native American College

Native American Faculty & Staff Council

Office of Tribal Affairs

We are currently in the process of developing a Sac State Native American Alumni Chapter! For information contact Dr. Amber Bill at Amber.Bill@csus.edu