Initiatives

The Southeast American Indian Studies Program (SAIS) is proud to lead and support a variety of community engagement, tribal outreach and student development initiatives. These efforts reflect our commitment to Indigenous communities across the Southeast and our dedication to academic excellence, cultural preservation and leadership development.

Student Development

SAIS supports Native students through immersive programs like internships and youth academies that foster leadership, cultural knowledge, and career exploration in Indigenous and STEM fields.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), this program offers paid, 8-week summer internships to students at UNC Pembroke and other Native-serving institutions.

Participants gain hands-on experience working with USDA professionals across the country—a unique opportunity to explore careers in agriculture, environmental science, and public service.

 Learn more about the Internship Program

Hosted by SAIS and sponsored by USDA APHIS, this FREE two-week residential program invites 20 American Indian high school students (rising freshmen through seniors) to explore STEM and environmental fields.

Students engage in:

  • Hands-on learning in agriculture, plant and animal sciences

  • Exposure to career paths in natural resources and wildlife biology

  • Cultural and educational experiences on a university campus

 For more information about the application process, contact us at sais@uncp.edu.

In partnership with the Esther G. Maynor Honors College, SAIS will support an honors living-learning community focused on Indigenous studies.

Features include:

  • Small, seminar-style courses on Indigenous peoples and cultures

  • On-campus housing with fellow honors students

  • Research and service-learning components in collaboration with faculty and tribal elders

Ongoing & Future Initiatives

Our initiatives continue to grow with projects that preserve Indigenous history, connect students with tribal elders, and create living-learning communities rooted in Native cultures and scholarship.

SAIS is developing a Digital Repository and Archive (DRA) to preserve and share:

  • Tribal documents, maps, government reports and census data

  • Oral histories, photographs and traditions of Southeastern Indigenous peoples

  • Rare collections like the Adolph Dial papers, Elmer T. Hunt photo archive, Lumbee River Fund collection and more

The archive will serve both the public and scholars as a resource for historical and cultural research.

This initiative brings a distinguished American Indian elder to campus to:

  • Engage with students in classrooms, workshops, and one-on-one conversations

  • Share cultural knowledge, community wisdom, and lived experience not found in textbooks

  • Serve as a bridge between academia and Indigenous communities

Want to Get Involved? 


SAIS initiatives offer meaningful ways to engage with Indigenous knowledge, serve tribal communities and support culturally relevant research and education. Whether you're a student, educator or community partner, there’s a place for you in this important work.

To learn more or explore collaboration opportunities, contact us at sais@uncp.edu or 910.775.4663.

female student at podium
Front of Old Main at UNCP with Lumbee woman in black and yellow regalia in the forefront