LAWRENCE -- The inaugural issue of the Indigenous Nations Studies Journal is hot off the press at the University of Kansas.

The new interdisciplinary, juried journal focuses on indigenous peoples and issues around the world and is edited by Donald L. Fixico, director of KU's indigenous nations studies graduate program and professor of history.

The journal's logo features a plain Indian warrior shield encircling a globe, symbolizing efforts to protect and preserve the indigenous voice of high quality scholarship. As a symbol of strength, the shield encompasses the concerns and issues facing indigenous peoples and their communities around the world, but especially in the Western Hemisphere, beginning with American Indians, Fixico said.

The first issue contains articles by KU and Haskell Indian Nations University faculty with indigenous heritage. Articles in the inaugural volume focus on the question "Why indigenous nations studies?" Future issues will include articles by scholars of indigenous studies.

Fixico, now in his second year at KU, said he originally had planned to have the journal published by the third year of KU's new graduate program in indigenous nations studies. He moved ahead to publish this year because of increased interest in a journal. Few juried journals focus on indigenous peoples, communities and issues in history, law, cultural studies, literature and language.

Articles in the inaugural volume are
--- "A Pan-Indigenous Vision of Indigenous Studies," by Pakal B'alam and Martina Masaquiza, both lecturers in KU's Latin American studies program.

--- "Renaming Ourselves on Our Own Terms: Race, Tribal Nations and Representation in Education," by Cornel Pewewardy, KU assistant professor in education.

--- "Indigenous Nations Studies Programs: A Rainbow Bridge Across the 21st Century?"by J. Anne Calhoon, KU assistant professor of education.

--- "Call for Native Genius and Indigenous Intellectualism," by Fixico.

--- "Finding the Indigenous in Indigenous Studies," by Raymond Pierotti, KU associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, and Daniel Wildcat, Haskell Indian Nations University professor of natural and social sciences.

--- "Why Indigenous Nations Studies?" by Robert Porter, KU professor of law and director of KU's Tribal Law and Government Center, and Michael Yellow Bird, KU associate professor of social welfare and director of KU's Office for the Study of Indigenous Social and Cultural Justice.

Subscriptions are $24 for individuals and $34 for institutions or $12 for a single current issue. Back issues are $15. To order a subscription or to submit an article write to Indigenous Nations Studies, 215 Fraser Hall, University of Kansas, Lawrence KS 66045 or visit the journal's Web site at http://www.ku.edu/~insp/journal3.html#Top.