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Center for First Nations Education

Fostering Indigenous Ways

Find resources and programs that promote First Nations cultures.

The Center for First Nations Education is a space for all to gather, visit and offer encouragement to one another as Indigenous people have done since the beginning of time. For our First Nations students, there’s value in having a specific space dedicated to a sense of belonging, purpose and cultural education. Our mission also extends across campus, collaborating with departments to raise awareness and inspire Indigenous ways of knowing and being—both inside and outside the classroom.

Connect With Us

Frist Nations Professors and students at commencement

Elder Teachings

Spend time and develop relationships with tribal elders and gain a deeper knowledge of Indigenous history and culture.

Learn from Our Elders

Resources

Access an Oneida language dictionary, Oneida lessons, interactive resources for teaching and a collection of 1,500 books and media.

View Resources

Events

Because our main goals are connection and education, we offer events that help build community and provide Indigenous knowledge.

UWGB Attend an Event

UW-Green Bay student visiting the Center for First Nations Education

Visit Us!

Stop by to learn more about First Nations at UW-Green Bay.

Connect with First Nations students, staff, & faculty to strengthen our community and share and learn together. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea where we enjoy laughing and also hold space to work through challenges. Various activities and support services are available for current and potential students, community members and alumni, too. We invite you to reach out and call 920-465-2937 or email us.

Contact Us

Academic Programs

Because Indigenous worldviews reflect an interconnected way of being, our academic programs and the Center collaborate to uplift First Nations culture. We offer a bachelor's degree in First Nations Studies, as well as an educational doctorate, to develop knowledge about Indigenous culture and people.

Student holding beans

First Nations Bachelor's Degree

Originally created by the Oneida community, First Nations Studies is a reconnection with and renewal of Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of being.

Start Your College Journey

Student walking into the Center for First Nations Education

First Nations Ed.D.

As the only degree of its kind in the U.S., the First Nations doctorate is centered in Indigenous teaching and learning methods to support you in reconnecting with original, ancestral knowledge and apply them to your work and the community.

Advance Your Career

Digital rendition of future Cofrin Library

New Space
Coming Soon...

We're moving to the new Cofrin Technology & Education Center.

The new building, which begins construction in 2025 with a scheduled completion of early 2027, reflects Indigenous worldviews not only through a circular design but through sustainable features. The center will take center stage, aligning with the broader goals of the University and serve the evolving needs of students and faculty across disciplines.

See Building Plan

UWGB is on Indigenous Land

Colonialism is an ongoing process. Indigenous lands are still occupied, and our Land Acknowledgement is just one step toward respecting contemporary First Nations perspectives and celebrating our shared communities.

Read Land Acknowledgement

Fast Facts

We want to ensure Indigenous people can thrive at UW-Green Bay.

300+ Students

357 students of our Fall 2024 total identified as First Nations.

25+ Different Tribal Affiliations

Of the First Nations student at UW-Green Bay, 25+ different Tribal Nations are represented. The largest representation includes Oneida, Menominee and Ojibwe Nations.

Leading Employers

Tribes across Wisconsin are the leading employers in their counties. First Nations education cultivates important knowledge that's relevant for communities throughout the state. 

Ceremonial Burn Exemption Form

Smudging and non-recreational use of ceremonial tobacco and other medicines are part of the traditions, celebrations, well-being and spiritual practice of many Indigenous peoples. If you are participating in these practices on campus, you'll need to submit an exemption form. Complete the online form and a meeting will be scheduled with Barb Miller, the Director of the Center for First Nations Education. 

Jennifer Barnes

Meet a
Phoenix

"I love the people at FNS, I love the teachers, elders and students, all who help us learn. They are the reason I am here today! The professors have taught me so much about FNS and myself. I got to know them personally and each of them has a gift with teaching their students, it’s been amazing to be a small part of their teachings and guidance. The material is fascinating as well and I loved the knowledge I was able to gain from their teachings."

Jennifer Barnes '24
First Nations Studies Major | Menominee Tribal Family Service Child Welfare Investigator

Location & Hours

Green Bay Campus, 410 Wood Hall, 2380 Wood Hall Dr., Green Bay, WI 54311

Monday: 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Christine Yungwirth

Find Support

We’re dedicated to building strong connections between our students, campus and the wider community. Need support? Our team at the Center is here to help.

Contact Us