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Meet Our Indigenous Visionaries

Meet Our Indigenous Visionaries

The Indigenous Visionaries initiative builds upon the American Indian College Fund’s previous work for a number of years developing Native women leaders, through education, mentoring, and networking. Indigenous Visionaries focuses on connecting students at tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) with faculty members in their area of study.

In Memory of Karen Whiting

In Memory of Karen Whiting

Lakota people believe that the place we go to on our spirit journey is a beautiful place where our ancestors welcome us. The College Fund team lost a beloved colleague earlier this week when Karen Whiting, our Human Resources Manager, died unexpectedly. Karen was a gracious, caring, and professional individual.

1st Tribal Lending Builds Strong Future for Native People

1st Tribal Lending Builds Strong Future for Native People

Home ownership, like education, are considered to be both an investment and part of the American dream. But these paths to a strong future have not always been accessible to American Indian people. Home ownership has been problematic because not all lenders could or can provide loans for people living on reservations or federal trust lands.

Leech Lake Tribal College Named Best Community College in America

Leech Lake Tribal College Named Best Community College in America

When WalletHub announced its rankings of the best community colleges across the nation, many Americans may have been unfamiliar with its first-place choice, Leech Lake Tribal College (LLTC). Tucked away in northern Minnesota on the Leech Lake Ojibwe Indian reservation, LLTC’s recent ranking is part of a long history of success. The college was also voted as seventh in a list of the nation’s 50 best community colleges in 2010 by Washington Monthly.

In Memoriam: Dr. Lynette Chandler

In Memoriam: Dr. Lynette Chandler

The American Indian College Fund is saddened to share that Dr. Lynnette Chandler, a 2009-10 Mellon Faculty Fellowship recipient and both the founder and the director of the White Clay Language School at Aaniiih Nakoda College, passed away on August 13th.

In Memoriam: Nate St. Pierre, TCU President and College Fund Trustee, August 13, 2017

In Memoriam: Nate St. Pierre, TCU President and College Fund Trustee, August 13, 2017

The American Indian College Fund is saddened to share that Dr. Nathaniel “Nate” St. Pierre, College Fund Trustee and President of Stone Child College, passed away on Sunday, August 13, 2017. We extend our condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and students. Nate served the College Fund Board from July 1, 2016 to present. His leadership and dedication to the mission of the College Fund and the important role the tribal colleges filled in their communities will be missed.

SIPI Parents Lead the Way

SIPI Parents Lead the Way

SIPI has worked hard to make sure its Restorative Teachings Initiative is grounded in community needs and parent voices. Parents were empowered through the initiative to ensure that the program is culturally responsive and meets their children’s needs. They have led the way in defining priority areas for  learning since the American Indian College Fund’s Restorative Teachings Initiative was awarded to SIPI in 2016.

Teachers Learn Techniques to Bolster Resiliency, Foster Classroom Connections

Teachers Learn Techniques to Bolster Resiliency, Foster Classroom Connections

Native youth often face disproportionate challenges in their young lives. Early childhood teachers can help these young learners increase their resiliency while they face adverse circumstances by supporting factors that protect and strengthen young children, according to Ray Soriano, a keynote speaker at the 33rd Annual FOCUS on Children Conference at Bellingham Technical College.