Early Head Start Program

History of the American Indian Institute at OU

statute on University of Oklahoma campus The American Indian Institute was established at the University of Oklahoma in 1951 as a non-profit Indian service, training, and research organization. The Institute is a department within University Outreach College of Continuing Education.

The major goals of the American Indian Institute are:

To promote Indian education and research;
To promote training, technical assistance, and professional development opportunities for Indian people;
To promote and support the development of human and natural resources;
To promote the perpetuation of tribal/band languages, cultures, traditions, and histories; and
To facilitate the utilization of the University resources by Indian tribes, bands, and organizations

The American Indian Institute brings together specialists from North American Indian tribes and bands representing such diverse areas as education, human services, sociology, psychology, history, economics, research, and evaluation to provide leadership and strategies related to complex social and human problems and challenges.

American Indian Institute service delivery is through workshops, seminars, conferences, on-site consultation, and technical assistance on a state, regional, national, and international basis. The Institute's events bring together representatives of hundreds of North American Indian tribes and bands to examine contemporary problems and solutions from a North American Indian perspective. Leadership and training provided for Indian people by Indian people.