John Little, PhD (Standing Rock Dakota), is a scholar, historian, filmmaker, and mentor whose work bridges history, higher education, and community transformation. His research and presentations focus on Native student success, Indigenizing the university, cultural appropriation and Native mascots, Lakota and Dakota music, and the complex experiences of Native Vietnam veterans.
A citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Dr. Little grew up between the Denver urban Native community and a small South Dakota town, shaping his path toward reclaiming Native narratives and mentoring the next generation. He earned his PhD in History from the University of Minnesota and is passionate about changing the way history is written about Native peoples.
Currently Director of Native Recruitment & Alumni Engagement at the University of South Dakota, he has expanded Native student enrollment through advocacy and culturally responsive systems of support. He previously led the Indian University of North America, a college readiness program at the Crazy Horse Memorial.
He is also co-director, with his brother Kenn, of the award-winning documentary More Than a Word, which examines the fight against Native-themed mascots. As a Bush Fellow, he is launching the Tokahe Institute, a nonprofit advancing higher education access for Native students. Widely recognized as a connector, Dr. Little helps students and communities see that they belong, their stories matter, and the future can be built differently.
Sovereign Representation: Beyond Mascots and Cultural Appropriation
Native Film and Storytelling: Utilizing Film to Reclaim Our Narratives
Indigenizing Work in Higher Education
Dr. Little shares strategies for building more inclusive campuses, through recruitment, retention, mentorship, and curriculum change, that center Native worldviews and foster genuine belonging. He also addresses barriers that Native students face in higher education and how to overcome some of those obstacles.
Building the Future Leaders of Indian Country: Native American College Readiness Programs
You Can’t Confuse Indian Patriotism with “American Pie:” Lakota and Dakota Experiences During Vietnam
Sustaining Tradition: Dakota Knowledge, Culture, and Language in the Archive
Dr. Little is also available for these powerful co-presentations:
More Than a Word
John is available for screenings of this award-winning film about Native American-based sports teams with his brother and co-director, Kenn Little. Bring one or both filmmakers for a lively post-screening discussion/Q & A. Learn more about that program here.
Mascots, Monuments, and Racist Objects: Using America’s Past to Unpack White Supremacy and Promote Racial Justice
John is available to co-present with David Pilgrim, Founder and Director of the Jim Crow Museum, the nation’s largest, publicly accessible collection of racist objects. The activism ignited by this country's police killings shed light on the many expressions of racism throughout society, including racist monuments and statues, racist names and mascots for sports teams, racist images in food brands, collectibles, and popular culture. College and universities are also reconsidering the names of campus buildings, streets, and monuments that memorialize white supremacists while also examining how campus policies and structures can perpetuate racism and white supremacy. In this presentation, David and John examine the racial reckoning and renaming movement and its implications and challenges for racial and social justice. They also share the lessons they have learned as activists committed to combating the racist imagery that undergirds white supremacy.
