Meet the CFNP Founder, Dr. Darren Lone Fight

Dr. Darren Edward Lone Fight, a proud member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation and Citizen Mvskoke Creek, is the Founding Director of the Center for the Futures of Native Peoples (CFNP) at Dickinson College. He also serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of American Studies, where his work is instrumental in shaping the understanding and appreciation of Indigenous histories, cultures, and futures.

Dr. Lone Fight's academic journey began at the University of North Dakota, where he completed his undergraduate studies in Philosophy and Religion. He continued his education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, earning his MA and PhD in American Studies. His dissertation, titled "Indigenous Impositions in Contemporary Culture: Knotting Ontologies, Beading Aesthetics, and Braiding Temporalities," reflects his deep commitment to exploring Indigenous epistemologies, aesthetics, and temporalities through a multi- and inter-disciplinary lens​.

Before his tenure at Dickinson College, Dr. Lone Fight served as visiting faculty in the Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora at Tufts University helping to establish their minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies. His academic and professional career is dedicated to advocating for Indigenous rights and knowledge systems, as well as fostering meaningful dialogues between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities​.

As the founding director of the CFNP, Dr. Lone Fight has been pivotal in its mission to advance the understanding of the Indigenous boarding school experience, promote the study of North American indigeneity, and facilitate a robust national conversation on Native American issues. Under his leadership, the center has become a beacon for Indigenous scholarship and activism, thanks in part to a charitable grant he authored and received from the Mellon Foundation​.

Dr. Lone Fight's personal history is deeply intertwined with his professional pursuits. His grandfather, former Tribal Chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes, Edward Lone Fight, played a significant role in reforming former boarding schools to better serve Indigenous communities—Darren was born in Salem, OR while his grandfather was reforming the Chemawa school. This legacy of transformation and advocacy is reflected in Dr. Lone Fight's approach to the CFNP, where he seeks to repurpose institutions of historical harm into spaces of healing and empowerment for Native peoples​.

In his vision for the CFNP, Dr. Lone Fight emphasizes the importance of looking forward while acknowledging and reconciling with the past. He is committed to involving Indigenous scholars, artists, and leaders in shaping the center's direction, ensuring it remains a dynamic and inclusive space for all who engage with it​.

Song Credit: I Hope You Know by Supaman (featuring Ashley Hall)