EQI Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program
Student research opportunities abound at UW-Milwaukee and the Electa Quinney Institute is honored to be a part of that tradition. Research is not just doing experiments in a lab but can include such diverse projects as understanding and developing language curriculum, curating an art show at a local gallery, investigating the modern use of language around native plants and medicine, or comparing corn growing methods. These projects provide many opportunities for student participants to develop many marketable skills that assist them in finding jobs upon graduation. These skills include time management, goal setting and achievement, writing and other communication skills, and critical thinking.
Students
If you are a current UWM student interested in participating in a paid research project with EQI, please go to the Undergraduate Research Fellowship Application. While most of our previous student participants have been citizens or descendants of various native nations, any student that is interested in research that is aligned with our mission, is welcome to apply.
Faculty
The same is true of interested faculty. The only way we can continue to support the diverse research interests of our students is through the support and collaboration with various faculty and community partners. If you are interested in being a research mentor/ supervisor to one of our students, please go to the Research Mentor Application form. Applications from faculty are accepted on a rolling basis. There is a small stipend available to those that participate in supporting our students.
If you would like more information, please contact Sommer Drake.
McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program
UW-Milwaukee is proud to be a Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program campus. Margaret Noodin, former EQI Director, first served as mentor for a McNair scholar in 2016 and has supported at least one scholar each subsequent summer.
2018-2019 Student Research Participants
| Student | Nicholas James Stamates |
| UWM Area of Study | Religious Studies/Pre-Law |
| Identity | Oneida Nation of Wisconsin |
| Research Title | Nixon and the Chief: Nixon’s Indian Policy, California Indians and Nixon’s Indian Mentor Wallace Newman |
| Project Summary | A historical account of how President Richard Milhous Nixon life was touched by Wallace Chief Newmann, a tribal leader of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians. |
| Project Advisor | Dr. Michael Wilson, UWM |
| Research Impact | Provide unknown history about the Nixon Administration and how he chartered a new course in Indian Affairs by ending termination and ushering in the current era of federal American Indian policy. Publication of article “Nixon and the Chief: Quakers, the Return of Blue Lake and Nixon’s Indian Mentor Wallace J. Newman” (https://dc.uwm.edu/rsso/2019/panel2B/1/) |
| Keywords | Richard Nixon Indian Policy, Wallace Chief Newman, La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, California Indians. |
| Student | Jamie Sparks |
| Academic Program | Biomedical Sciences |
| Identity | Stockbridge-Munsee Community-Band of Mohican Indians |
| Research Title | The Use of Health Care Facilities by Self-Identifying American Indian Students on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Main Campus. |
| Project Summary | The purpose of this research is to determine how the self-identifying American Indian students on the UWM main campus access health care, which types of health care are utilized and if a disparity to health care access exists. |
| Project Advisor | Dr. Patricia T. Nájera, UWM |
| Research Impact | Results will be used to determine if education about health care programming and options for American Indians in the Milwaukee area is needed for students attending the UWM. |
| Keywords | Tribal Indian Health Care Centers (urban and rural), Indigenous health disparities, Indigenous self-identification. |
| Student | Jamie Kellicut |
| Academic Program | Social Work (major) and Psychology (minor) |
| Identity | Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians |
| Research Title | Practice Considerations in Working with American Indian Elders |
| Project Summary | The purpose of this research is to determine what social work professionals need to know when they are serving American Indian elders. This research project will document knowledge from elders who experienced and suffered through generations of trauma and substance abuse. |
| Project Advisor | Dr. Colleen Galambos, UWM Helen Bader School of Social Welfare |
| Research Impact | Provide a voice of to the elder Native American population and their resilience and persistence in urban areas. Publication in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Aging Spring /Summer 2019 Issue (https://uwm.edu/socialwelfare/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2019/06/DecolonizingPractice.AgingNLReprint.pdf) |
| Keywords | Native American Trauma, Native American Substance Abuse, Indigenous elders, Discrimination, Untold Stories |
| Student | Nyia Garrett |
| Academic Program | Dual Enrollment-Student at Ronald Reagan High School (MPS) |
| Identity | Colombian (South America) – American |
| Research Title | An elder in Residence |
| Project Summary | This project focuses on the story of An Elder in Residence and her memories of the Menomonee Reservation, the resilience of her family and the beauties of mother earth. |
| Project Advisor | Dr. Patricia T. Nájera, UWM Electa Quinney Institute |
| Research Impact | Provide a voice to an elder who embraces traditional teachings passed down by elders and personal participation in talking circles, pow wows, sweat lodges and language camps. Winifred always taught anyone she encountered with gratitude and believed in the power of a hug. |
| Keywords | Native American elder and teachings. |
| Student | BillyJack O. Parent |
| Academic Program | B.A., Linguistics; Teaching English as a Second Language |
| Identity | Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe |
| Research Title | Tribal Governance Systems |
| Project Summary | To examine the history, policy and government relations as they to federally recognized nations in North America. |
| Project Advisor | Dr. Patricia T. Nájera and Dr. Margaret Noodin, UWM Electa Quinney Institute |
| Research Impact | To share information about the future of respecting sovereign identity and dual-citizenship in the United States. |
| Keywords | Sovereign identity, dual citizenship, traditional teachings, indigenous governance and leadership. |
| Student | Morgan Thiel |
| Academic Program | Nursing/American Indian Studies Certificate Ojibwe |
| Identity | Lake Superior Band of Bad River Chippewa Indians (Ojibwe) |
| Research Title | Indigenous Voices – Sharing the Wisconsin Sky Ojibwe Star Story and Cultural Craft Program |
| Project Summary | Research and preparation for cultural craft workshops, including drum making, rattle making, puzzle pouches and dream catchers, learning songs in my language, tribal star stories. Created curriculum for craft making workshops. |
| Project Advisor | Dr. Margaret Noodin and Dr. Jean Creighton, UWM |
| Research Impact | Presentation at UWM’s Planetarium and EQI Craft Days |
| Keywords | Cultural practices, Star Connections-Bear Hunt Story |
2017-2018 Student Research Participants
| About the Student | About the Research Project |
|---|---|
| Jamie Kellicut, B.S., Social Work (major), Psychology (minor) Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe | Research Title: Prevalence of discrimination of American Indians in the Wisconsin Educational System Project Summary: Research on the prevalence of discrimination for American Indians in the Wisconsin Educational System. Project Advisor: Dr. Margaret Noodin and Dr. Patricia Najera, UWM Research Impact: Presenter at UWM Undergraduate Research Symposium (April 2018) Keywords: American Indian: Mental health, Discrimination, Cultural Practices, Coping Skills, and Identity |
| Michael Nelson B.S., Biology Lakota | Research Title: Chinibwaakaa (s/he is wise): The Story of an Elder in Residence Project Summary: Documentation of the oral history of UWMÂ’s Elder in Residence, strengthening and building community engagement efforts. Project Advisor: Dr. Patricia Najera, UWM Research Impact: Presented at Wisconsin Indian Education Association Conference (April 2018); McNair Scholar 2018 Keywords: Indigenous culture, Multi-media production |
| Jamie Sparks B.S., Biomedical Sciences/ Pre-Med Stockbridge Munsee Mohican | Research Title: Indigenous Voices – Sharing the Wisconsin Sky – Stockbridge Munsee Mohican Project Summary: Research on the traditions of language, star connections, traditional music and cultural images from the Stockbridge Munsee Mohican Nation. Project Advisor: Dr. Margaret Noodin and Dr. Jean Creighton, UWM Research Impact: Co-presentation at UWM’s Planetarium, Application to Indian Health Service Scholarship Program Keywords: Stockbridge Munsee Mohican: Cultural Practices and Star Connections |
| Jennifer Sparks B.S., Social Work; Certificate in American Indian Studies Stockbridge Munsee Mohican | Research Title: Indigenous Voices – Sharing the Wisconsin Sky – Stockbridge Munsee Mohican; Awareness of Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Project Summary: Research on the traditions of language, star connections, traditional music and cultural images from the Stockbridge Munsee Mohican Nation. Project Advisor: Dr. Margaret Noodin and Dr. Jean Creighton, UWM; Dr. Patricia Najera, UWM Research Impact: Invitation to UWM’s Department of Social Work to consider changes to reading material and learning objectives related to ICWA. Keywords: American Indian children and ICWA training |
| Nathan Breu B.A., American Indian Studies Major (awarded 2018) Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians | Research Title: Minowaki Chibizhiwag Dewei’igan: In the Good Land, the Panthers Drum Project Summary: Documentation about the creation, history, and legacy of Panthers Drum by Buck Martin. Project Advisor: Dr. Margaret Noodin, UWM Research Impact: Accepted into Graduate School, Master’s Program in History, AOP Recipient (2018-2021) Keywords: Native American Drum, Indigenous Music, Ethnobotany, Anishinaabemowin language |
| Paul Smith B.A., History Oneida Nation of Wisconsin | Research Title: Indigenous Voices – Sharing the Wisconsin Sky – Oneida Star Story Project Summary: Research on the traditions of language, star connections, traditional music and cultural images from the Oneida Nation. Project Advisor: Dr. Margaret Noodin and Dr. Jean Creighton, UWM Research Impact: Interest in serving tribal focused organizations. Keywords: Cultural practices, Star Connections |
| Morgan Thiel Nursing/American Indian Studies Certificate Ojibwe Lake Superior Band of Bad River Chippewa Indians (Ojibwe) | Research Title: Indigenous Voices – Sharing the Wisconsin Sky – Ojibwe Star Story and Cultural Craft Program Project Summary: Research and preparation for cultural craft workshops, including drum making, rattle making, puzzle pouches and dream catchers, learning songs in my language, tribal star stories. Created curriculum for craft making workshops. Project Advisor: Dr. Margaret Noodin and Dr. Jean Creighton, UWM Research Impact: Presentations at UWM’s Planetarium and EQI Craft Days Keywords: Cultural practices, Star Connections-Bear Hunt Story |
| Monea Warrington M.A., Anthropology /Museum Studies Certificate Menominee Nation of Wisconsin | Research Title: Indigenous Voices – Sharing the Wisconsin Sky – Menominee Star Story Project Summary: Research on star stories of Menominee Nation. Project Advisor: Dr. Margaret Noodin, UWM Research Impact: Presentation at AAA conference, Accepted into UWM’s Graduate School Master’s Program in History/Museum Studies, AOP Recipient (2018-2021), Researcher on NSF – Documenting Endangered Languages grant. Keywords: American Indians, Endangered Languages, Anthropology, Youth language camp, Menominee Language |
2016-2017 Student Research Participants
| Student | Nathan Breu |
| UWM Area of Study | B.A., American Indian Studies Major |
| Identity | Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians |
| Research Title | Ninaandagikenimaanaanig Zaagigiig: A survey of current plant use by Wisconsin Ojibwe tribes. |
| Project Summary | Interviewed 10 elders about traditional uses of plants, cultural interpretations and language use in the environment. |
| Project Advisor | Dr. Cary Miller, UWM |
| Research Impact | Presentation at Algonquian Conference (2017), McNair Scholar |
| Keywords | American Indians, Ethnobotany, Anishinaabemowin language |
| Student | BillyJack O. Parent |
| UWM Area of Study | B.A., Linguistics; Teaching English as a Second Language |
| Identity | Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe |
| Research Title | Ezhi-naakonigeyang: Anishinaabe Political Traditions |
| Project Summary | This project involves research on current and historical knowledge about Anishinaabe political traditions. The goal is to examine the framework for leadership and organizational structure in tribal government. |
| Project Advisor | Dr. Margaret Noodin, UWM |
| Research Impact | Study Abroad to Japan (2017/2018) |
| Keywords | American Indians, Treaties, Clan leadership |
| Student | Monea Warrington |
| UWM Area of Study | B.A. Anthropology/American Indian Studies Certificate (Awarded 2017) |
| Identity | Menominee Nation of Wisconsin, Arikara Nation (North Dakota) |
| Research Title | Omaegnomenew Kiketwan: Menominee Conjugation Lesson Assessment |
| Project Summary | Research and planning for Menominee Website Project highlighting language revitalization efforts for Menominee language. Develop curriculum for Menominee Language Verb Lesson. |
| Project Advisor | Ben Grignon, Menominee Indian High School and Dr. Margaret Noodin, UWM |
| Research Impact | McNair Scholar, Presented work at 2017 Anishinabemowin-Teg, Inc. Conference |
| Keywords | American Indians, Endangered Languages, Anthropology, Youth language camp, Menominee Language |
| Student | Cynthia Bergloff |
| UWM Area of Study | B.A. American Indian Studies Major (awarded 2018) |
| Identity | Grand Traverse and Grand River Ottawa |
| Research Title | Native Voices Art Exhibit |
| Project Summary | Develop outreach and recruitment plan for key native-serving organizations and leaders to participate in Native Voices Art Exhibit. |
| Project Advisor | Xela Garcia, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts |
| Research Impact | Acceptance into UWM Teacher Training and Administrative Leadership Program Post Bac Program and Institute of American Indian Arts Master’s program |
| Keywords | American Indians, Indigenous/Native art, Youth Art, Anishinaabemowin language |