Since its inception, the principal goals of the AIIS program have been to:
- Bring together the diverse scholarly interests in Indigenous Studies in various Colleges and Institutes at UF, bridging the Social Sciences (Anthropology, Archaeology, Linguistics, Oral History, and Political Science) Natural Sciences (Geology, Botany, Land Use and Conservation), and the Humanities (Art History, Religion, and Sustainability Studies)
- Promote awareness among the UF community of American Indian cultural heritage, especially on annual events such as Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Native Heritage month;
- Collaborate with Indigenous communities in producing and developing the kinds of knowledge and critical reflection that promote better understanding and respect among cultures
- Provide a challenging curriculum for undergraduate and graduate students in American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS) that encompasses a variety of disciplines, utilizes university resources, and reflects an accurate portrayal of Indigenous peoples within historical, social and contemporary arenas.