Indigenous College Student Activists and Their Relationships to the #NoDAPL Movement

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Indigenous People and College Student Activism

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of Indigenous student activists in the movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Taken from a larger portraiture study, this paper focuses on the decision process for students: how did they decide to travel to Standing Rock or to stay on campus? Utilizing data from 20 semi-structured interviews with Native college students, findings show that students felt comfortable staying on campus if they were able to find meaning for their communities in their degree, or if they knew their degree would help fight future injustices like DAPL. For those who traveled, most felt “called” to ND, and support from their campus communities was key, as well as the blessing of their families and Native nations.

Author

• Adrienne Keene, Brown University