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Dina Horwedel, Director of Public Education, American Indian College Fund
303-426-8900, dhorwedel@collegefund.org

Colleen R. Billiot, Public Education Coordinator, American Indian College Fund
720-214-2569, cbilliot@collegefund.org

American Indian College Fund President and CEO Co-Authors Chapter on Native Higher Education in the Northern Plains

June 23, 2023, Denver, Colo.— American Indian College Fund President and CEO Cheryl Crazy Bull co-authored a chapter in the recently released book “On Indian Ground – A Return to Indigenous Knowledge: Generating Hope, Leadership, and Sovereignty Through Education.” This work, focused on the Northern Plains, is one of a ten-book series from Information Age Publishing that explores American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian education in different regions. The series is intended for educators who work with Native youth, and provides best practices grounded in Native ways of knowing.

The chapter “Post-Secondary Education in the High Plains–Place, Community, and Identity,” written by Crazy Bull and Sweeney Windchief, Assistant Professor in Adult and Higher Education at Montana State University, examines how the Northern Plains support Native higher education. The pair focused on how predominantly white institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and partnerships strengthen tribal self-determination and autonomy. The chapter highlights language programs, sustainability courses, partnerships, funding strategies, and student support in the region.

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About the American Indian College Fund—The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 33 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided $14.45 million in scholarships and other direct student support to American Indian students in 2021-22. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $284 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support programs at the nation’s 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators and is one of the nation’s top 100 charities named to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org.

Journalists—The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund.

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American Indian College Fund Launches “Make Native Voices Heard” Voting Campaign

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Native Americans are more impacted by the law than any other group in the United States. Native students in higher education, or seeking a higher education, in particular are impacted by federal and state laws impacting funding for education, such as Pell Grants, student loans, and federal funding for tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), 70% of which comes from federal sources.

Support for Native People in Higher Education Includes Permitting Sharing of Tribal Affiliations

Support for Native People in Higher Education Includes Permitting Sharing of Tribal Affiliations

Employees at the University of South Dakota were told to remove tribal affiliations and gender pronouns from email signatures, citing a policy by the Board of Regents. This move lacks support for Native individuals in higher education, according to Cheryl Crazy Bull of the American Indian College Fund, who urges allies to stand with Native faculty and staff by including such details in their signatures.