The office has been established to provide Leadership, guidance and support for Native American initiatives, organizations and programs that align with the Tribal Relations mission and U of I strategic plan.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Tribal Relations Office is to foster respectful and mutually productive relationships between Northwest Tribes, the University, the community and key stakeholders through culturally appropriate research, outreach and programming. We work to develop, recognize, promote and facilitate protocols of reciprocity as they relate to Tribal sovereignty and Native American education.

Core Values

• Relationship: Cultivate relationships to foster an environment that is inclusive of and responsive to Tribal Traditional Knowledge and worldviews.
• Respect: Work to create respectful relationships to develop trust and understanding that allows for deeper sharing to benefit both the Tribal Community and University.
• Reciprocity: Strive to foster an environment that values and understands the interconnectedness of all things around us.
• Responsibility: Work strategically to provide culturally responsive Education, Research and Service to surrounding Native American communities.