The Indigenous Peoples Institute (IPI) supports Native American student success at Seattle University and raises awareness about issues of critical importance to local and global Indigenous peoples.

Christina Roberts, PhD, the institute’s director, is working with a new executive council to enhance IPI’s organizational capacity and programming. The group is comprised of Indigenous elders and SU alumni interested in enhancing the experience of Indigenous students and creating space for Indigenous peoples and voices.

Roberts has worked with collaborators to create internship opportunities for students—and IPI's expanding network of alumni and community partners allows for organic connections to emerge. Additionally, supporters and volunteers within IPI nurture mentorship in a variety of fields and professions.

Says Roberts, “The work that is taking place through IPI reflects each of SU’s Strategic Directions.” For example, in alignment with Goal 1: Reimagine and Revise Our Curriculum, Roberts co-sponsored events with the Center for Faculty Development and other campus partners to ensure “there are intentional, rather than tokenized, connections with Indigenous peoples and communities.”

Roberts consistently strives to support Goal 4: Promote Inclusive Excellence and says she’ll continue to both work alongside colleagues to meet this goal and to advocate for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) students, staff and faculty.

IPI’s work and Roberts’ aspirations for its future “align beautifully with Goal 5: Reposition for Growth,” she says. This includes IPI’s collaboration with School of Law faculty and staff working with the Center for Indian Law and Policy and the Native American Law Student Association to connect through a campus-wide partnership council, designed to enhance support for American Indian and Alaska Native students on campus.

“As SU repositions for growth in the region, I hope that IPI and its connections with community partners, American Indian and Alaska Native alumni, Urban Native peoples and tribal nations in the area will enhance how SU approaches modernization and development,” Roberts says.

Looking to the future, Roberts aims to expand IPI’s partnership with the Lushootseed Research Institute and add more summer programming to the existing pre-college opportunities for American Indian and Alaska Native youth.

She also envisions further collaboration with campus partners “to allow for a more robust and respectful way for students and community members to connect with tribal nations locally and take informed action alongside Indigenous peoples to address the ongoing consequences of colonization, unsustainable development and climate change.”