Transformational Resistance and Social Justice: American Indians in Ivy League Universities

In this article, I focus on the experiences of two Ivy League graduates to examine the notion of transformational resistance. Combining data from a two-year ethnographic study with follow-up interviews over a decade, I analyze how students acquired skills and credentials that enabled them to serve their tribal communities. Strategies of resistance through education are used to achieve autonomy and self-determination and are important for American Indians because of their unique political and legal status. I also argue that those individuals who engage in transformational resistance often incur serious personal costs while the community benefits from their actions.