The Indigenous Education Institute (IEI) was created in 1995 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) institution with a mission to preserve, protect and apply traditional Indigenous knowledge in a contemporary setting today, around the world. IEI has developed numerous projects that preserve traditional knowledge, protect the knowledge in terms of protocol, and apply it to areas such as astronomy, heliophysics, geology and other related science disciplines.


IEI works closely with many Indigenous organizations and institutions and also with mainstream universities and K-12 schools. IEI personnel have given countless presentations around the world, in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Wales, Mexico, Mongolia, Hawaii, Alaska, and all through the continental United States. They have worked with many scientific organizations and institutions such as American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), Canadian Aboriginal Science and Technology Society (CASTS), Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA), NASA HEAT,  Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California-Berkeley, Space Telescope Science Institute, Exploratorium (San Francisco, CA), OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, University of Colorado Boulder, Oregon State University, National Science Foundation and the Native Science Academy.

IEI is located in Friday Harbor, Washington, and Ganado, Arizona (Navajo Nation), and is composed of key administrators and board members from various Indigenous Nations. The Board of IEI is comprised of Western Science leaders and knowledge holders, many holding PhDs, with an International Advisory Board of noted individuals from all walks of life. IEI develops educational materials such as the poster of the Dine (Navajo) Universe, CD of Navajo Astronomy Stars Over Dine Bikeyah, and a cross cultural astronomy book: Sharing the Skies: Navajo Astronomy – A Cross Cultural View, with comparisons of Navajo, Greek and NASA Space Science worldviews. IEI has developed a Dine Cosmic Model: “Strategic Planning and Evaluation in accordance with the Natural Order” as perceived by the Navajo. IEI is known for development of place-based curriculum relevant to Indigenous communities, such as Traditional Indigenous Geography, a traditional Indigenous introduction to GIS technology. Other university curricula include Indigenous Philosophy and Curriculum Development, a course developed and delivered from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and Introduction to Indigenous Astronomy, an online course developed and currently delivered through the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Northern Arizona University. IEI specializes in the articulation of the differences and commonalities among Indigenous ways of knowing (native science) and Western Science and works to bring an awareness of Indigenous protocol for research and evaluation to the Western world.


“Collaboration with Integrity” is a term introduced by IEI to describe a respectful approach to communication and collaboration. It emphasizes building relationships between Western and traditional Indigenous knowledge systems through deep listening and mutual respect. An example can be found in our book titled Cosmic Serpent: Collaboration with Integrity which can be viewed at the NSF website REISE – click here

The work of IEI is focused on the boundaries between traditional Indigenous science and western science, sometimes places of tension, but also places where the most fruitful exchange of knowledge can take place. The work of IEI is centered on the task of helping young native people find their own sense of self-identity and self-esteem in the world today, based on a firm foundation of thousands of years of cultural knowledge.

On behalf of the Indigenous Education Institute and the Board of Directors, I welcome you to our website. The Indigenous Education Institute (IEI) is an Indigenous-based organization whose work is designed to revitalize and engage Indigenous knowledge in contemporary processes and projects. IEI has been a leader in creating collaborative and dialogical frameworks for bringing into conversation Indigenous science and Western science in communities, national and international settings. Although strongly focused on Native science, IEI’s programs are also forms of conflict transformation. Through the work of IEI, Indigenous ways of knowing are now more widely recognized as being rigorous knowledge systems in their own right that have significant value in both Indigenous and Western societies. Again, welcome. We hope you will visit IEI’s website often and follow us as we progress our goals and develop new programs and partnerships.

• by Nancy Maryboy, Ph.D., President
• Indigenous Education Institute (IEI)

Welcome to the IEI website! It is a pleasure to invite you to browse through our newly updated website. I want to express my deep gratitude to our Webmaster, Christopher Teren, for his patience and leadership in this endeavor.


As you will see, IEI is involved in a number of projects, all chosen in alignment with our mission and goals. We have chosen to emphasize the use of traditional ecological knowledge as it relates to sustainability and balance, or as Navajos might say Hozho. We believe that Indigenous peoples have succeeded in keeping Mother Earth and Father Sky in balance for thousands of years. Now, as global issues such as climate change, increasing ocean acidification, toxic waters, air pollution, and many others, point out the need for strategic and collaborative leadership to restore a global and universal balance, we feel that examples of Indigenous stewardship and emphasis on harmony and reciprocity, can lead the way.


I want to extend my thanks to the wonderful people who are associated with IEI, in particular the Board of Directors, as led by Dr. Polly Walker, the Elders’ Council, the members of our International Advisory Council, the members of our Youth Council, and the PIs and staff and advisors to all of our projects. We really do walk and talk our belief in collaboration and we work hand in hand with western scientists and Indigenous knowledge holders. As the title of our latest book exclaims, we believe in “Collaboration with Integrity.”