By the next century, nearly half of the roughly 6,000 languages spoken on Earth will disappear, according to estimates by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Of those languages, in North America 54 Native American languages are already extinct and another 137 are in various degree of being endangered. Yet the positive benefits of speaking one’s native language include better academic performance, self-identity, mental and physical health, and more.
As an institution that seeks to honor and embrace their culture, Leech Lake Tribal College (LLTC) works diligently to model Anishinaabe values. In August 2014, LLTC officially became commercial tobacco-free, prohibiting use of all commercial tobacco products on campus other than for ceremonial use.
At the center of the American Indian College Fund’s new campaign is a staggering statistic—less than 1 percent of college students are American Indian. The College Fund joined forces with longtime partner, Portland-based advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy, to create a public service announcement to increase enrollment.
The college fairs give students an opportunity to contemplate their higher education and career options. The American Indian College Fund will be attending each event and will have scholarship information available for students, and is sponsoring a $500 scholarship for a luck winner at each career fair site. People can also visit with representatives from in-state and out-of-state colleges and universities, technical and trade schools, military branches, agencies, and career representatives.
Less than 13% of American Indian students have earned a college degree—half of the national average. You can help change that. The American Indian College Fund Gala will be held March 1, 2016 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers to support American Indian education.
Marcella has not had an easy life. She was primarily raised in the boarding school of Rough Rock, Arizona, and says relationships, consistency, and stability were not guarantees during her upbringing. With help from a sister’s open door, Marcella is now settled into an enriching life in Crownpoint, New Mexico, where she and her husband live near a wide collection of family members.
Prior to joining the College Fund Ms. White Hat worked for Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota as a project evaluator, where she oversaw and conducted research using a capacity-building approach to benefit regional tribal nations.
Bridget Skenadore, the American Indian College Fund’s Native Arts and Culture Project Coordinator, had the opportunity this week to participate in the Sisseton Wahpeton College’s Wokape’ Parfleche Workshop. Parfleche was used by tribes in the Plains as rawhide containers to store food and personal belongings.
Diné College is a shining of example of how tribal colleges provide a high-quality education while serving as the caretakers of their tribes’ cultures. The Ned A. Hatathli Cultural Center Museum at Diné College received the Museum Excellence Award from the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM) for expanding its museum and serving as an outstanding example of how Indigenous archives, libraries, museums, and individuals contribute to the vitality and culture sovereignty of Native Nations.
NTU granted seven baccalaureate degrees at its Fall 2015 Commencement, one in Industrial Engineering and six in Early Childhood Multicultural Education. Pictured from right to left includes graduates: Angelita Darwin, Ramara Begay, Diana Hosteen, Anita Jones-Pouncy, Valerita Nez, Vernita VanWinkle-Sorrell and Fayetta Clawson.
