Speaker Requests

The Public News Service shares the concerns of American Indian College Fund President and CEO, Cheryl Crazy Bull, regarding cuts in funding to TCUs in the Trump administration's proposed 2027 budget.

Tribal college and university presidents air their concerns about the U.S. Department of the Interior taking over management of federal funding for tribal higher education. They are calling on the department to adhere to treaty and trust obligations by consulting with Tribes and tribal educators and for assurances from the federal government that funding mechanisms and support will be maintained.

American Indian College Fund president and CEO, Cheryl Crazy Bull, explains why the Trump administration’s proposed 90% cut to post-secondary funding under the Bureau of Indian Education is not just a budget decision but a default on treaty obligation. The threat is not just to TCUs or tribal communities but also rural communities that rely on the trained workforce TCUs provide.

Supporters of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) gathered on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 13, for the Scholarships Shape Futures—2025 IAIA Benefit & Auction. The sold-out event grossed over $1.2 million in donations, art purchases, ticket sales, and pledges—all of which benefit student scholarships and IAIA’s mission, “to empower creativity and leadership in Indigenous arts and cultures through higher education, lifelong learning, and community engagement.”

Robust partnership between Haskell and Kansas State Department of Education offers Native students an academically rigorous and culturally affirming education. Graduates of the teacher certificate program have a profound impact on tribal communities across the country.