The Indigenous Theological Initiative (ITI) will provide mentorship and educational support for theological doctoral students and faculty across the U.S. and Canada who are invested in Indigenous theological scholarship and strengthening Indigenous congregations. This program is modeled after the successful Hispanic Theological Initiative.
Summer Gatherings
The ITI gathers faculty and students together for professional workshops, fellowship in Indigenous majority spaces, networking, and opportunities for students to take Indigenous-focused classes. Summer gathering sites will include the NAIITS annual symposiums and the Vancouver School of Theology Indigenous Summer Programs. The ITI will create space for mentoring relationships and friendships to be nurtured among faculty and students aspiring toward Indigenous scholarship and ministries.
Summer 2026
Location:
Acadia Divinity College, Wolfville, Nova Scotia is hosting the NAIITS 23rd Annual Symposium
Dates:
June 2 - June 6, with an option to extend to June 11, if there is a desire to enroll in a NAIITS Summer Session course.
Costs:
In its inaugural year, the program will cover all reasonable costs associated with airfare, accommodations, meal per diems, and registration for the NAIITS Symposium.
Doctoral students are responsible for paying the $1,000 enrollment fee for the optional NAIITS graduate course after the symposium.
Program:
Doctoral Students and faculty will gather together as an ITI cohort to build relationships and to present their research. There will be opportunities to dream together about how the ITI can support, empower, and mentor Indigenous doctoral students. We will spend one day building relationships and listening to research presentations with the NAIITS Ph.D. cohort, and then on June 4, gathering again before attending the NAIITS: Annual Symposium from June 4-6.
Program Application:
Applications will be open from April 1 to April 30, 2026
Unless the applicant is already known to the ITC, the application requires a letter of recommendation from a professor and/or dean. Alternatively, for this first year, a recommendation may be submitted by phone or via Zoom to the Director of the Indigenous Theological Circle, Chris Hoklotubbe, or an interview may be conducted between the applicant and the Director.
Participants will be notified of their acceptance into the program before May 15, 2026.
Program Eligibility:
This program is open to doctoral students studying at accredited higher education institutions who are engaged with Indigenous theological scholarship.
There is a limited number of scholarships available. Scholarships for participants will be determined by the ITC director in consultation with the ITC Advisory Council. There may be opportunities for additional students to participate if they or their institutions are able to cover their own costs.
