Skip to main content

Tribal Relations

We are committed to building and sustaining relationships between Northwestern University and Tribal Nations, engaging in meaningful partnerships and engagements that promote and support tribal self-determination.  

Here are some of the ways we do this work:

Prospective Students

As an institution, Northwestern is developing intentional relationships with Chicago and greater Indigenous communities. Student voices have been central to the advancement of institutional commitments — we follow in their legacy as a growing community of learners, knowledge keepers, protectors and advocates working towards cultivating meaningful change at Northwestern and beyond. 

Learn more about student admissions. 

Programming

Native American & Indigenous Affairs offers a wide range of programming and opportunities to learn about issues and topics important to Native American & Indigenous communities.  We aim to ensure our programming is accessible, open to all, which includes one-time and reoccurring programs.  

Tribal Consultation

Northwestern University recognizes and honors the important government-to-government relationships of Native Nations. We also affirm our ongoing commitment to comply with all applicable federal and state laws, codes and regulations related to sovereign American Indian Tribes, including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and American Indian Religious Freedom Act. 

Contacts 

  • Jasmine Gurneau 
    Director, Native American & Indigenous Affairs 
    Phone: 847-467-6368 
    Email: jasmine.gurneau@northwestern.edu  
  • Eli Suzukovich 
    Director of Cultural Preservation and Compliance 
    Phone: (847) 467-2976  
    Email: eli.iii@northwestern.edu 
  • Jennifer L. Kunde 
    Special Assistant to the President for Government Relations 
    Phone: 847-491-8396 / 312-503-1037 
    Email: j-kunde@northwestern.edu 
  • Caitlin Leach 
    Senior Director of Federal Relations, Government Relations 
    Location: Washington, D.C. 
    Phone: 202-624-8441 
    Email:caitlin.leach@northwestern.edu 

List of Current Partnerships

Tribal Partnerships 
  • Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation 
  • College of Menominee Nation  
  • Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University  
  • Chief Dull Knife College  
  • Sand Creek Massacre Descendant Representatives 
Tribal Organization Partnerships 
  • Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative includes: 
    • American Indian Association of Illinois
    • American Indian Center
    • American Indian Health Services of Chicago 
    • California Indian Manpower Consortium 
    • Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation 
    • D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies at the Newberry Library 
    • Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum 
    • Menominee Community Center of Chicago* 
    • Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois
    • St. Kateri Center of Chicago
    • Trickster Cultural Center
    • Tunica-Biloxi Tribe - Chicago Branch Office*
    • Visionary Ventures NFP
  • Center for Native Futures
  • Field Museum
  • Sand Creek Massacre Foundation 
  • Sand Creek Massacre National Park 
  • Potawatomi Trails Pow Wow 
  • American Indian Science and Engineering Society 
  • Indigenous Journalists Association 

 

* = Also affiliated with a Tribal Nation