Project on Indigenous Governance and Development at Harvard Kennedy School

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Project on Indigenous Governance and Development at Harvard Kennedy School

These nations are being rebuilt, poverty is being pushed back, and cultures are being strengthened as Indian communities take charge of their own destinies.

The Harvard Project aims to understand and foster the conditions under which sustained, self-determined social and economic development is achieved among American Indian nations through applied research and service. The Project on Indigenous Governance and Development at the Harvard Kennedy School is the recognized leader in practical research, teaching, leadership development, policy analysis, an

d pro bono advising for Native communities. With Indigenous peoples so long shut out from access to world-class and relevant educational and economic opportunities, the core mission of the Project is to arm Indigenous people themselves with the tools needed to govern effectively and to strengthen their economic, social, and cultural fabrics. Based at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, the Project focuses on what works to strengthen Indigenous communities—and what doesn’t work. Since 1987, the Project has worked to uncover and support the conditions under which sustained, self-determined political, social, cultural, and economic strengthening can be achieved by Indigenous communities. The Project has been awarded by tribes themselves for its pioneering work fostering the Indigenous renaissance that has taken hold in the US and beyond.

05/28/2026

Congrats to the HKS Class of 2026! 🎉🎓

05/25/2026

The College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation intends to use their Harvard Honoring Nations award to support the development and delivery of a tribal healthcare education workshop focused on expanding medical education and residency training opportunities within Tribal healthcare systems as well as written and digital resources materials. Particular emphasis will be placed on developing culturally unique learning objectives that incorporate traditional health practices, Indigenous perspectives on wellness, and community-centered models of care. The goal is to create resources that have a lasting impact and can be references and shared broadly across Indian Country beyond the initial workshop itself.

OSU Center for Health Sciences

05/21/2026

We were absolutely thrilled to welcome Patrice Kunesh to the “public service Hall of Fame” last week at a stirring ceremony at the Kennedy School. Patrice joined a select number of other honorees with a unique perspective on how Native governance is defining good governance — governance that non-Native leaders in the United States and abroad can and should emulate. Read more about her HKS Alumni Public Service Award on our website: https://indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu/news/2026/05/patrice-kunesh-mcmpa-2010-receives-hks-alumni-public-service-award

Her nomination noted that “Her work with tribal governments has resulted in significant social, cultural, and economic development gains for Native people, created pathways to building homes and community facilities, supported establishment of essential governing institutions, such as tribal codes and courts, as well as securing enduring federal-state-tribal agreements on critical issues such as gaming, taxation, and child welfare.”

It was also stated that “Patrice’s lifelong commitment is deeply rooted in her Native heritage. When her grandfather was born in 1902 on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, Native people were not considered citizens of the United States. It wasn’t until 1924, when Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act, that her grandfather and all Native people were recognized as full citizens of the United States. How remarkable it is that his granddaughter, Patrice, would go on to lead three federal agencies, two of which focus on the rights and welfare of Native people, and while at the other she was able to target significant federal funding for housing and infrastructure in Native communities.”

Finally, we all think that Patrice has a ‘wow factor’ that is rare and beautiful… “The cumulative ‘wow factor’ is that Patrice not only ‘talks the talk,’ she ‘walks the walk.’ Her dedication to protecting Native rights and in doing so, honoring her Native family and community inspires all who cross her path. Patrice shared a glimpse of this in an article she wrote for the Harvard Gazette during her time at the Kennedy School entitled, ‘Living the Lessons We have Learned,’ dated April 29, 2010. We hope you will read it.”

05/20/2026

The Taos Pueblo Priority Process is an ongoing, living process that builds community capacity into planning, action, and goal-setting for the future of the community. Their plans for using their Honoring Nations dissemination award include: a Priority Process Team gathering with original participants to review existing Tribal Resolutions, lessons learned, and future Priority Process goals; outreach about the Priority Process beyond Taos Pueblo to involve Tribal Leaders within the Northern New Mexico community; an article about the Priority Process in the Tribal Newsletter, Tiwa Times; and a global presentation on the Priority Process with a facilitated workshop with the International Association for Community Development

Is your program a former Honoring Nations awardee that would like to share your story? Send us a DM!

⭐ Taos News: https://www.taosnews.com/magazines/taos-woman/shawn-duran/article_c5a90c39-e444-52b2-b517-920307ff2b1e.html

Taos Pueblo | Taos News

05/18/2026

With their Honoring Nations dissemination award, the Jicarilla Apache Nation's Water Sharing Agreement team plans to prepare stickers and a brochure telling the story of the program, including photos from the Harvard site visit and links to independent press and film projects.

Water Administration staff will host a booth at the Nation's WildCORE summer program in both 2026 and 2027. The WildCORE summer program seeks to educate youth in the community about wildlife, water, the environment, and land stewardship. Information regarding the Water Sharing Agreement and stickers will be available to participants during the WildCORE program.

Is your program a former Honoring Nations awardee that would like to share your story? Send us a DM!
Jicarilla Apache Nation PR

05/15/2026

We love hearing first-hand how the Honoring Nations award has helped uplift the amazing work of tribal programs! “Didn’t even get back to the office after NCAI and was contacted by Pit River Tribe and jumped on a zoom call with the Chairman and council to share the Sche’lang’en Village Program. Our presentation caught his eye and needed me to present to his Tribal council.” (2025 Awardee from the Lummi Nation)

With their dissemination award, the program plans to expand their current brochure and website so others can see and learn how their program has made a lasting impact on tribal families.

Is your program a former Honoring Nations awardee that would like to share your story? Send us a DM!
Lummi Communications

05/13/2026

Another Honoring Nations Awardee in the news! Our 2025 Awardee, the Bears Ears Coalition, shares that:

"This award affirms what our elders and leaders have taught us, that Indigenous governance is powerful, effective, and necessary," said Anthony Sanchez Jr., Head Councilman of the Pueblo of Zuni and Co-Chair of the BEITC. "Our work at Bears Ears is about responsibility, healing, and protecting the cultural legacy of our Nations for future generations. For the Zuni people, these lands hold the footprints of our ancestors, and it is our duty to care for them with reverence and humility."

⭐ PR Newswire: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bears-ears-inter-tribal-coalition-recognized-with-honors-from-harvards-honoring-nations-awards-302626129.html

05/11/2026

We love seeing our Honoring Nations Awardees in the news! Our 2025 Awardee, the Iron Horse Industrial Park, was recently featured in the Citizen Potawatomi Nation's Hownikan Magazine as well as in an interview with NPR's KOSU:

“About an hour’s drive outside Oklahoma City is one of the first active foreign trade zones in Indian Country — an economic tool for tribes and companies seeking stability amid fluctuating tariffs. Meet Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Iron Horse Industrial Park.”

Article Links:

⭐ https://www.kosu.org/local-news/2025-12-15/citizen-potawatomi-nation-blazes-new-path-with-foreign-trade-zone-helping-companies-navigate-tariff-changes

⭐https://www.potawatomi.org/wp-content/uploads/Hownikan-January-2026-Digital.pdf

05/06/2026

Over the past few weeks, we have been fortunate to host several amazing guest speakers presenting on a range of topics from Data Sovereignty to International Indigenous Trade. Here are just some of the highlights!

05/04/2026

Last week, HUNAP students gathered for a lunch with Amy Medford, Senior Program Director of the Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development. It was a great time for students to gather in community, share conversation, and connect more personally with HPIGD!

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79 JFK Street
Cambridge, MA
02138

Website

https://indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_on_Indigenous_Governance_and_Development

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