Our scholars graduate and innovate in every facet of American society—as healthcare providers, senators, business executives, NASA rocket scientists, and more. They are leaders, mentors, and future changemakers. When you make room for tomorrow’s Indigenous graduates, you support the future. When you become a friend and ally of Native people, you legitimize our place in the world.
Inside the College Fund Blogs
American Indian College Fund Faculty Fellowships Develop Teaching and Research Expertise at Tribal Colleges and Universities
The American Indian College Fund (College Fund) awarded fellowships totaling $213,500 to 12 tribal college and university (TCU) faculty and staff in the spring of 2023. These fellowships support faculty pursuing graduate credits, master’s, or doctoral degrees. The College Fund’s faculty fellowship programs are creating greater education expertise in Indian Country, while building the academic and intellectual capacity of the 35 tribal colleges and universities it supports.
Graduation: A Time to Celebrate Your Achievements and Culture
In 2019, the American Indian College Fund teamed with the Native American Rights Fund to gather content Native American students need to work with school administrations in advance of graduation to ensure they can celebrate their graduations in a traditional way. We have updated this blog for 2023 but many of the principles are still the same.
Help Us Create Awareness of Murdered and Missing Indigenous People
May 1-7 marks the National Week of Action for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women. Indigenous people disproportionately go missing or are murdered in this country, including women, girls, men, boys, and two-spirit (LGBQT) relatives. The American Indian College Fund urges our communities and supporters to use this week for public healing and to demand accountability from governments and law enforcement for this crisis, while remembering those we have lost. We ask our supporters to create greater visibility of Native people and greater awareness of the issue so this is no longer a “silent issue.”
American Indian College Fund Staff Member to Speak at Mental Health Summit
The American Indian College Fund’s Transfer and Admissions Program Administrator, Nicolette Weston, will speak at the National Scholarship Providers Association’s (NSPA) Mental Health Summit on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. The National Scholarship Providers Association focuses on advancing the collective impact of scholarship providers and the awards they offer.
National Day of Racial Healing
The National Day of Racial Healing in January helps citizens acknowledge how racism has harmed people and communities to enable collective healing in order to build a more equitable nation. Here at the American Indian College Fund, we believe one key aspect of racial healing is creating greater visibility and representation of Native people.
Join the American Indian College Fund in Support of the Indian Child Welfare Act: Vital to Native Culture, Identity, and Sovereignty
On November 9, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments of Haaland v. Brackeen, the case concerning the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The stakes are high. The Supreme Court’s decision will ultimately determine whether the 44-year-old law that ensures Native children have the legal right to remain connected to their familial network, culture, and community will remain intact.
Sovereign Nations Series: Flags Symbolize National Identity for Tribal Nations and TCUs
June 14 is Flag Day, when the United States commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag, reflective of the status of the U.S. as a sovereign nation. The Stars and Stripes, recognizable throughout the world, prompted me to think about the symbolism of flags and their representation of national identity, such as that the U.S. flag represents. Tribal flags are also representative of sovereign nations. The celebration of Flag Day a suitable time to share insights into our history and our contemporary lives as Tribal people.
