International North American Indian Association UK
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Welcome to INAIA UK
The INAIA is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation; it is not political as such but will respond
to requests to support actions, especially concerning environmental issues.
The INAIA was founded in Glasgow in 1987 as the North American Indian Association. It grew
to have several branches around the UK. As it grew outside the UK the branches were closed
or became independent groups, most of those groups have now folded. The INAIA has
members in North America and Europe, at one point we even had a member in Japan.
The INAIA serves to bring together people who have an interest in the original inhabitants of
North America. The association has appeal to the general public who might be hesitant to
contact academics (this does not mean that some of us have not had higher education). Our
members do not wear regalia, give ourselves “Indian” names or hold spurious spiritual
ceremonies. The INAIA works to dispel misinformation and misunderstanding about the North
American Indians, it does not seek to sanctify them but to portray them not as some kind of
exotic species who have mysterious spiritual powers or with a special knowledge of nature;
but rather as a race of human beings, with saints and sinners, most of whom have a spiritual
awareness and with a care and respect for their environment.
The INAIA does this by writing to the media when insulting and/or offensive items are
published. Many people in the media are ignorant about Native Americans and quite often
offend by trying to be humorous and witty, sadly they fail. The INAIA staged many exhibitions
at small local museums and community centres; it publishes its own quarterly magazine for
members, “The Turtle Islander.”
SCHOOLS: The INAIA assists schools with their projects; it will advise and lend materials and
artefacts. The INAIA charges no fee but will ask only for expenses (postage, photocopying
etc) to be met.
THE PUBLIC: The INAIA will try to answer queries or to point them in the right direction. The
public includes agencies, authors and others with a question or request for assistance and
information.
Membership
The INAIA offers membership to anyone with a genuine interest in Native
Americans. Membership offers subscription to “The Turtle Islander” and
bulletins, members may borrow books, audio tapes, videos and CDs
from the small INAIA library, the only charge here is also for postage.
Membership fees are £12 per household, per annum.
Click the link above
to contact us
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Education
A wigwam is
usually a
dome-shaped
dwelling made out
of a combination of
poles, branches,
bark, and brush or
rush mats.
INAIA - UK
9/2 Dunsyre House (North)
33 Calder Crescent
Edinburgh
EH11 4JH
0131 453 1046
0131 225 4897
A tipi is a
cone-shaped tent
made from animal
skins, usually the
buffalo.
