The Native American Scholarships Fund is an endowment established to foster a sense of shared purpose and positive interaction between archaeologists and Native Americans. Scholarships are open to all Native peoples from anywhere in the Americas, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Indigenous Pacific Islanders. Since 1998, the SAA has used the endowment income to award the annual Arthur C. Parke
r Scholarship in support of archaeological training for Native Americans who are students or employees of tribal, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian cultural preservation programs. National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships for Archaeological Training for Native Americans and Native Hawaiians are also awarded through the Native American Scholarships Committee. In 2009 the SAA added two awards in support of undergraduate and graduate archaeology education, and recently in 2020 the Bertha Parker Cody Award for Native American Women was established, which is partially funded by the Autry Museum of the American West, in support of Native American women and gender non-conforming students in the fields of archaeology and museum studies. Support for these scholarships comes in several ways: through donations, an annual silent auction at the SAA meetings, book royalties, and grants. For questions about the applications process or to make a donation, please contact the Committee Chair. The following competitive scholarships are currently offered and submissions open annually on October 1st:
•SAA Arthur C. Parker Scholarship - To support archaeological training for Native Americans who are students or employees of tribal, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian cultural preservation programs. Amount award is variable. PLEASE NOTE: This scholarship will not be offered in 2022.
•NSF Scholarship for Archaeological Training - To support archaeological training or a research program for Native American students or employees of tribal cultural preservation programs (up to $6,000).
•SAA Native American Undergraduate Archaeology Scholarship - To support undergraduate studies for Native American students, including but not limited to: tuition, travel, food, housing, books, supplies, equipment, family and dependent care, medical expenses, on-line archival research costs, and archaeology related analysis costs (up to $6,000).
•SAA Native American Graduate Archaeology Scholarship - To support graduate studies for Native American students, including but not limited to tuition, travel, food, housing, books, supplies, equipment, family and dependent care, medical expenses, on-line archival research costs, and archaeology related analysis costs (up to $11,000).
•Bertha Parker Cody Award for Native American Women - To support undergraduate or graduate studies, including but not limited to tuition, travel, food, housing, books, supplies, equipment, and child care. All Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women, including gender non-conforming individuals, who are undergraduate or graduate students in the fields of archaeology and museum studies, are eligible for this award. This award is partially funded by the Autry Museum of the American West (up to $4,000).
