Reporter Charlotte West, with contributing writer Arlo Iron Cloud (Oglala Lakota), look at the myriad ways the pandemic impacted three Native women, along with its wider impact on Native American students. The College Fund worked to share data and trends and Cheryl Crazy Bull also spoke to Ms. West for the story, which explores college access, food and housing insecurity, illness in Native communities, resulting mental health challenges due to grief and loss, and more.
Vicki Besaw – A Dissertation Story
Vicki Besaw, a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Lake Superior Ojibwe Tribe, pursued her doctorate at age 54 to help students heal from trauma through storytelling. Working at the College of Menominee Nation, she used Indigenous story methodology to create a safe space for students to explore their life stories and understand the impact of trauma. Her research not only supported her students but also sparked intergenerational healing within her own family. Vicki aims to integrate her findings into the curriculum and publish her stories to reach a broader audience.
