Education is a cornerstone of American society—often an expected milestone. But for many Native students, this steppingstone into a career is the exception rather than the rule, due to financial need.
Yet education is invaluable. It’s not just about the financial return on investment a graduate receives. An education offers the opportunity to explore and discover who we are, who we want to be, what the world needs, and how we can honor our story while moving forward.
Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) reclaimed education as a tool for language and cultural revitalization and preservation in the wake of assimilative attempts of the government and mainstream education institutions using western education systems to remove them from and destroy their cultures.
TCUs are extensions of tribal nations —built for the community, by the community — and serve tribal and rural communities that are underserved by higher education and are too often overlooked by the rest of the country.
During the first week of February, representatives from 36 tribal colleges travelled from across the country to Washington, D.C. to remind Congress that supporting TCUs is not optional — it’s part of the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations. TCUs are not only here; they are creating a ripple of generational change with every student who walks through their doors.
That’s because TCUs aren’t just about supporting the academic student; they invest in the whole person. For many, attending a TCU is a reintroduction to their Native culture and language, helping them discover confidence and power in their Native identity. TCU students met with Congressional leaders, and some shared they never believed school was built for them until attending a TCU.
That shift in mindset about education extends beyond the individual. Families change when children see their parents earn their degrees and begin to see new possibilities for themselves. One student even shared he convinced his father to enroll in classes alongside him.
TCUs show Native students that it’s never too late to pursue an education. The cyclical exchange of care—between students, families, institutions, and communities— is at the heart of these schools. Healing and growth take time, and much of this work is done knowing we may not see the full fruits of this labor in our lifetimes. But that doesn’t mean the impact isn’t real. We’re already seeing it.
Graduates overwhelmingly stay and work in their communities, strengthening tribal economies and contributing to the country’s workforce. TCUs have sparked hope that we can build something our ancestors always dreamed of for Native people. Going back is not an option. There is only forward. With continued investment, TCUs can grow to serve even more students ready to take that step toward a better future.
For many in our country, TCUs remain hidden gems. Yet they embody the heart of education: connection to oneself, to community, and to each other as they uplift all. That’s something we can’t afford to lose.
Read the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) Legislative Summit Press Release Here
To truly understand the impact of tribal colleges and universities, listen to the students themselves.
