In the past year we have witnessed the erosion of freedom of speech, racial profiling of civilians, and further limitations on minority and low-income individuals’ ability to pursue their desired educations and careers.
The Indigenous peoples within the United States are not strangers to being treated differently from others, with their children forcibly removed from families and sent to boarding schools to be assimilated and entire Nations forcibly removed from their homes for their land. Even until recently, individuals were prohibited from engaging in their spiritual and cultural practices. Throughout history, Native people have continuously had to fight for their legal rights to be heard and for the federal government to uphold their treaties.
During the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s, American Indians and Alaska Natives demanded the sovereign rights and autonomy owed to them as sovereign nations, the chance to be self-actualized, and to not be forcefully assimilated or their tribal nations dismantled. That was the birth of the TCU movement.
The tribal college movement and founding of the tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) is not only a perfect example of Native nations reclaiming their sovereign rights, including the right to speech and protest, speak one’s language, and to enjoy freedom from the government imposing a religion, freedom of association, and more. TCUs are also at the forefront of healing individuals and communities.
TCUs often host or support tribal language reclamation programs, their grounds and academic calendars hold ceremonial events, and they welcome advocacy organizations to operate on their campuses. In addition, TCUs offer an affordable education to the entire community as open enrollment institutions, and host community-wide events for both Native and non-Native community members alike.
Our different languages, cultures, and traditions as Native peoples are to be celebrated as part of the beautiful tapestry that comprises our nation. Collaboration, healing, and peace can be found in these aspects of culture, all of which are taught at TCUs. We can also find healing by continuing to take care of ourselves and each other.
It is in our families and at TCUs that we learn about the knowledge and beliefs of our ancestors that came before us; in particular, the belief that we are all relatives. This is the key to our true healing: individually, in our communities, and in our wider nation.
