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IU Bloomington

Nicky Belle

First Nations Educational and Cultural Center

Expert Bio

Nicholas Belle is director of the First Nations Educational and Cultural Center at Indiana University and is also affiliated with both the Native American and Indigenous Studies Program and the Department of Anthropology. Belle received his Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from IU in 2016 and has served as the center’s director since that time. Belle’s research concerns aspects of Native American performative and expressive culture on the Northern Plains, particularly among Lakota people of South Dakota. His work looks at Native American dance and song performance as actively anti-colonial processes, and engages men’s warrior societies, material cultural, and ideas of masculinity.

Areas of Expertise

Native American performative culture, powwow culture, powwow dance and music, Northern and Southern Plains war dance culture, Native American material culture associated with war dance and social dance culture, Lakota language education.

Other Information

First Nations Educational and Cultural Center: https://firstnations.indiana.edu/ Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs program directors: https://diversity.iu.edu/contact/program-directors.html

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