The Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies (CAIRNS) is an Indian-controlled nonprofit research and education center that is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of American Indian communities and issues important to them by developing quality educational resources and innovative projects that acknowledge and incorporate tribal perspectives, and by serving as a meeting ground for peoples and ideas that support those perspectives. CAIRNS also provides quality evaluation services for projects dealing with American Indians and Indian communities and offers cultural awareness training to organizations and institutions. CAIRNS was founded in 2004 and is located at Wingsprings in the Lacreek District of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, near Martin, South Dakota.