Thomas Klemm, an enrolled member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and Turtle Clan, is a Political Science Ph.D. candidate at the University of Michigan. His dissertation focuses on the political economy of Native assimilation policies and their impacts on Indian Country today, specifically how capitalism influences Post-Indian wars Federal Indian policy and the use of liberal humanitarian justifications, such as allotment policy, which led to massive land loss and cultural genocide through American Indian Boarding schools. As a survivor himself, Thomas’s work is deeply personal and inspired by his family members who lived through the era of boarding schools in the 20th century.
Recently, Thomas was awarded funding from the APSA Advancing Research Grants for Indigenous Politics program for his research that explores political science phenomena affecting historically underserved communities and underrepresented groups. The program provided support to ten projects for a total of $20,000 in December 2023. These grants aim to promote diversity and inclusion in research by supporting studies that address the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities.
The funded projects cover a range of topics related to Indigenous politics, including issues such as sovereignty, representation, economic development, education, health care, environmental justice, cultural preservation, gender studies, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. By supporting research that examines these political issues affecting Indigenous communities across North America, the APSA Diversity and Inclusion Advancing Research Grants aim to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive field of political science.
Overall, Thomas’s work highlights the importance of understanding historical events like boarding schools and their ongoing impacts on Native communities today. Through his scholarship and activism efforts with organizations like his tribe’s Cultural Preservation Department or other community groups working towards social justice for Indigenous peoples worldwide., he seeks not only to educate others but also inspire future generations to continue fighting for change within our society.
