Vine Deloria Jr. (1933–2005) is a well-known Standing Rock Sioux scholar, theologian, historian, and activist. His work challenges dominant narratives about Native peoples and emphasizes the value of Indigenous knowledge systems. His well-known books including Custer Died for Your Sins and God Is Red, sparked national discussions on sovereignty, religion, and environmental justice.
Each year, the Vine Deloria Jr. Indigenous Studies Symposium is guided by a central theme that reflects the values, legacy, and visionary work of Vine Deloria Jr., while also addressing timely issues effecting Native communities today.This online space is designed to preserve and share the legacy of Vine Deloria Jr. and the many Indigenous scholars, leaders, and community members who have contributed to the symposium over the years. Whether you’re new to the symposium or returning to revisit past discussions, the site offers valuable insights and resources that support continued learning and reflection.
Archived content from past symposium years is available to explore, and each year’s materials reflect the evolving themes, topics, and contributions of that year’s speakers. This growing collection is a testament to two decades of intergenerational dialogue, community building, and Indigenous intellectual tradition.
Visit the website here:
https://www.nwic.edu/about-nwic/nwic-vine-deloria-jr-symposium/Links to an external site.
Indians of the Pacific Northwest
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Custer Died for Your Sins
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Spirit and Reason
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The World We Used to Live In
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Of Living Stone
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Deloria passed away in 2005, and in his honor, his family donated his personal library collection from Golden, Colorado to NWIC’s Lummi Library, which now proudly maintains it. Portions of his academic papers were also archived at Yale University.
The personal library of Vine Deloria Jr. is housed in a dedicated room in the Lummi Library. At nearly 3,000 volumes, these are the books he read and used for research. The books are arranged on the shelves in the same order he had them in his home library reflecting the wide range of his intellectual curiosity: books by and about Indians; traditional academic subjects such as history, psychology, philosophy, law, theology, and anthropology; subjects not traditionally academic such as catastrophism, alternative history, and life after death; and much more.
Portions of his academic papers were also archived at Yale University.
In 1991, Vine Deloria Jr. delivered a lecture at the University of Washington as part of the Jessie and John Danz Lecture Series. The event opened with an introduction and honor song by student representatives from the First Nations at UW and offers a meaningful introduction to Vine Deloria Jr.’s voice, humor, and presence. At the time, Deloria was actively researching what would become The World We Used to Live In, a book published in 2006 after Deloria walked on in 2005 and widely considered a capstone to his life's work. In this lecture, he shares insights into his research process, providing early glimpses into the ideas that shaped the book.
Univeristy of Washington Video. (uploaded on July 10, 2014). The World We Used to Live In [Video]. YouTube.
Vine Deloria Jr. had a deep and lasting connection to the Pacific Northwest and to Northwest Indian College (NWIC).
In the 1970s, Deloria lived in Marietta, Washington, and taught at Western Washington University. His time in the region inspired his book Indians of the Pacific Northwest, which highlights the history and governance of local tribes, including the Lummi Nation and the Lummi Indian School of Aquaculture.
Deloria’s relationship with NWIC was fostered through his former graduate student, Steve Pavlik, who studied under Deloria in the American Indian Studies Master’s Program at the University of Arizona. Pavlik later became a faculty member at NWIC and invited Deloria to speak at the 2005 Robert K. Thomas Symposium. Deloria and Thomas were longtime colleagues, and Deloria deeply respected Thomas’s legacy. Following the event, Deloria expressed his wish that NWIC host a yearly symposium focused on Indigenous Studies. His vision became reality with the founding of the Vine Deloria Jr. Indigenous Studies Symposium, now celebrating its 20th year.
Steve Pavlik