Our Blogs

Pendleton Launches Endowed Scholarship Program with American Indian College Fund

Oregon-based Pendleton Woolen Mills has donated $39,000 to establish an endowed scholarship program benefitting American Indian tribal college student scholarships through a partnership with the American Indian College Fund (the Fund). This endowed scholarship program, entitled the Pendleton Endowment, will provide financial assistance to Native students attending any of the 33 tribal colleges located throughout the United States.

Diana Canku, Tribal College President Earns Doctorate Degree

Diana Canku, Tribal College President Earns Doctorate Degree

Diana Canku (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), president of Sisseton Wahpeton College and a 2009-10 academic year fellow in the American Indian College Fund’s Andrew W. Mellon Career Enhancement Program, has successfully defended her dissertation and completed her doctorate degree.

The Fund Awarded Best in Class Charity at Annual Forging Hope Event

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians held its second annual Forging Hope Luncheon at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino, California on March 30, bringing together non-profit groups from the philanthropic community for its inaugural Yawa´ Awards Ceremony. Yawa´ is a word and concept in the Tribe’s native Serrano Language that calls for one to act on their beliefs.

Remembering Minnie Two Shoes

On April 9, the journalism world lost a fine journalist, activist, and teacher. Minnie Two Shoes (Assiniboine from the Ft. Peck reservation in Montana) passed on. She was a founder of the Native American Journalist Association, tireless teacher, journalist, and activist. Godspeed, Minnie.

Wilma Mankiller Passes On

Our sympathies and best wishes go out to the friends and family of Wilma Mankiller, who passed on from cancer this week. Mankiller was an author, lecturer and former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. She served 12 years in elected office at the Cherokee Nation, the first two as Deputy Principal Chief followed by 10 years as Principal Chief.

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Pledges $100,000 to American Indian College Fund

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has announced it is granting $100,000, or $50,000 in 2010 and another $50,000 in 2011, to the American Indian College Fund. The purpose of the grant is to provide two fellowships to tribal college faculty pursuing their doctoral degrees in the natural science, mathematics, and engineering fields. As part of the program, the foundation will also fund a retreat, direct recruiting, and fellow outreach to ensure the participants’ success.

President Obama Donates $125,000 of Nobel Prize Money to American Indian College Fund

President Obama announced today that he will donate $125,000 of his $1.4 million Nobel Peace Prize monies to the American Indian College Fund (the Fund). In a statement issued by the White House, Obama said of the Fund and nine other charity organizations that received donations from the president, “These organizations do extraordinary work in the United States and abroad helping students, veterans and countless others in need. I’m proud to support their work.”