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“Without question, Native peoples have always believed in education and its ability to draw out inner potential to promote self-sufficient, self-confident, positive thinking and knowledgeable people with the emotional intelligence to build quality lives.” Dr. Henrietta Mann

We are looking for alumni to share their stories with the American Indian College Fund. Where are you today? How did attending a tribal college make the difference in your career? Please drop us a line and let us know how you are doing at dhorwedel@collegefund.org

Cultural misunderstandings often lead to stereotypes. The phrase “Indian giver” is a perfect example of that. This slang term for someone that renegs on a gift by asking for its return after giving it is rooted in stories from early Dutch traders who came to the new world as traders and businessmen.

Winter is hard on everyone. Travel is difficult if not dangerous, and the colder temps in a northern climate make it hard to stay warm. American Indian students have a difficult time–with soaring gas prices and long commutes across dangerous roads, getting to school takes determination and strength. Yet our students do continue on, despite the financial and other hardships, slogging through the winter, sharing rides to cut costs, and more because they are committed to getting an education.

This week marked the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth and leadership. In honor of King, Richard B. Williams, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, looks at the tenets of what makes a great leader from an American Indian perspective.

Do you remember when you first learned about an event in American history portrayed through the eyes of American Indians? The narrative is often quite different in events. The Battle at Little Big Horn is just one example, with accounts by soldiers portraying Custer’s men in a much more valiant and favorable light than those eyewitness accounts rendered by American Indian witnesses.

Many Native students report experiencing culture shock at mainstream colleges and universities. Several institutions offer support to help guide them through the college experience, such as the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay.

It’s finals week, the penultimate time when all of the hard work (or lack thereof) of the semester makes or breaks many students. Sometimes the long road to earning a college education can seem daunting. But like most things in life, if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. And remember–if it was easy, everyone would have done it.