Partnerships and initiatives
Trusted partners and collaborators
Arizona State University partners with Tribal Nations, Indigenous organizations and community leaders to advance sovereignty, leadership development, workforce capacity and innovation across Indian Country.
Our partnerships are grounded in long-term relationships, mutual accountability and shared commitment to strengthening Tribal communities and institutions. We approach collaboration as relational — shaped by listening, guided by trust and sustained beyond individual initiatives.
Leadership development
The Indigenous Leadership Academy is a nationally recognized leadership development program cultivating Indigenous change-makers through a curriculum rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, leadership and community responsibility.
ILA brings together emerging and established leaders from Tribal Nations across the country to strengthen governance, strategic leadership and community impact.
Workforce and infrastructure development
Construction in Indian Country® strengthens workforce capacity in infrastructure, construction management, engineering, planning and project leadership on Tribal lands. Developed with Tribal guidance and in partnership with ASU’s Del E. Webb School of Construction, the initiative supports tribally sponsored projects and prepares students and professionals to lead culturally grounded, sustainable development.
Digital sovereignty and innovation
Developed in collaboration with the National Congress of American Indians, the Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty supports Tribal Nations in strengthening digital infrastructure, protecting data and advancing economic self-determination.
This work reflects evolving standards in Indigenous data governance and community-controlled innovation.
Cultural patrimony, repatriation and NAGPRA
ASU is committed to compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and to collaborative consultation with Tribal Nations regarding cultural materials, human remains and sacred objects.
The ASU Curator of Collections and Center for Archeology and Society Repository coordinate consultation and documentation processes when research or collections may affect Tribal Nations and communities.
Law, policy and governance pathways
Through partnerships with the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and the Indian Legal Program, ASU supports leadership pathways in Tribal law, federal Indian law and governance.
These initiatives contribute to strengthening legal capacity and policy expertise within Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities.
Indigenous-focused centers and programs
ASU is home to nationally recognized centers advancing Indigenous scholarship, education and cultural preservation.
Labriola National American Indian Data Center
An Indigenous-led library center supporting Indigenous scholarly work, creative writing and culturally safe research spaces
Center for Indian Education
An interdisciplinary research center focused on local Indigenous education justice and improving academic outcomes globally
Indian Legal Program
One of the nation’s leading legal programs offering specialized training in Federal Indian law and Tribal sovereignty
Indigenous Design Collaborative
A community-driven design and construction program that co-develops architecture and planning solutions for Arizona’s Tribal Nations
Tsosie Lab
An interdisciplinary lab dedicated to Indigenous genomic data equity, bioethics and human health research
Construction in Indian Country®
A program supporting construction management education to help Tribal communities build independent workforce capacity
School of Social Work Office of American Indian Projects
Supports Indigenous students and builds Tribal community capacity through collaborative social work education and partnerships
Center for Imagination in the Borderlands
An Indigenous-centered creative unit focused on storytelling, artistic alliance and narrative community work
Project Dream Catcher
A Thunderbird School of Global Management business readiness program specifically designed for Native women entrepreneurs
Institute for Transborder Indigenous Nations
An institute researching Indigenous rights, border issues and linguistic anthropology across transborder communities
Mary Lou Fulton Preparing Educators for Arizona’s Indian Communities
Provides stipends and tuition assistance for Indigenous members training to teach in local Tribal schools
American Indian Policy Institute
A research institute focusing on Tribal digital sovereignty, broadband policy and Indigenous leadership training
ASU Relate Lab
An anti-colonial collective blending Indigenous studies and environmental science to foster collaborative, narrative-driven research
Convenings and relationship-based engagement
ASU serves as a convener for dialogue, collaboration and shared learning with Tribal leaders, researchers, educators and community partners.
Engagement may include:
- Government-to-government meetings
- Leadership roundtables
- Workforce development discussions
- Youth and campus visits
- Policy briefings and collaborative workshops
We honor that some partnerships are public and others remain appropriately private, guided by Tribal preference and protocol.
Engage with us
Get in touch to request a meeting or consultation, discuss research and partnership opportunities, invite ASU to your community, connect with university leadership, or share your questions or feedback.