Reporter Charlotte West, with contributing writer Arlo Iron Cloud (Oglala Lakota), look at the myriad ways the pandemic impacted three Native women, along with its wider impact on Native American students. The College Fund worked to share data and trends and Cheryl Crazy Bull also spoke to Ms. West for the story, which explores college access, food and housing insecurity, illness in Native communities, resulting mental health challenges due to grief and loss, and more.

Department of Education Affirms Native Students are Citizens of Sovereign Indian Nations with Legal Relationship with Federal Government
The Department of Education affirmed its recognition of the sovereign authority of Native Nations to educate their citizens and its relevance to all education institutions in a letter to the National Indian Education Association. Learn more about the letter and how Native sovereignty works.