Since its founding, the Native American Student Association (NASA) has been rooted in the fight for Native rights. The struggles Native students and faculty have faced at the University of Michigan are not just history—they are lived experiences, shaped by real people who have had to demand recognition, respect, and justice for our people.

Organized in 1972 and just 4 years following the foundation of the American Indian Movement (AIM), NASA members challenged the university’s failure to uphold its obligations under the Treaty of Fort Meigs, fought for the creation of a Native American Studies program, and called for dedicated housing and community space. They spoke out against the university’s possession of Native remains, filed civil rights complaints and lawsuits, and repeatedly held the institution accountable for its treatment of Native students.

The fight was ongoing decades later. NASA members led efforts to stop the legacy group Michigamua from appropriating Native culture, fought for treaty rights, and worked to improve educational conditions for Native students. Time and again, students found themselves returning to the same demands, proving that these struggles were never just moments of the past—they are part of an ongoing movement.

NASA’s continued activism is a testament to the resilience of Native students who have refused to be ignored. It is not just about policy changes or symbolic victories—it is about real lives, real communities, and the right to exist outside of colonial frameworks.  The work is not over.