Restorative Teachings
Early Childhood Education Initiative
About The Program
A Tribal College and University collaborative to strengthen systems of care and learning with Native families and children. The American Indian College Fund (College Fund), in collaboration with Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), is implementing a $1.5 million dollar early childhood education (ECE) initiative that draws upon the child development knowledge from within Native communities melded with the best practices identified in the field of early childhood education. This community-based ECE initiative uses a multi-phase approach to developing long-term commitment and shared responsibility for the development of high-quality early childhood educational opportunities for Native children and their families, by aiming to design culturally-responsive and adapted ECE systems, build stronger family engagement programs, and support Native family economic security directly through partnerships and access to higher education. Through local and national partnerships, tribal communities can benefit from restored access to systems, knowledge, approaches, networks, and strategies that contribute to sustained engagement resulting in improved early learning opportunities and health benefits for Native families and their children.
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Program Blog

Hosting Early Childhood Educators from Southwest University in Chongqing, China
By Anna Lees, Ed.D. Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education Northwest Indian College’s (NWIC) Early Childhood...

SIPI Parents Learn Couponing, Family Budgeting Strategies
by Danielle Lansing, SIPI Early Childhood Faculty and SIPI Restorative Teachings Project Director During brainstorming...

From Student Intern to College Fund Employee: Cassandra’s Journey
Cassandra Harden (Diné) was focused on a career in early childhood education when she first learned about internship...
Grantees
TCU Early Childhood Education Initiatives
For the Wisdom of the Children:
Strengthening the Teacher of Color Pipeline
Restorative Teachings Early
Childhood Education Initiative
Cultivating Lakota Early
Childhood Learning Opportunities
Ké’ Early Childhood Education
Family Engagement Initiative
Wakanyeja – Early Childhood
Education Initiative
Our Programs
Early Childhood Education
Native Culture and Language Preservation
Environmental Stewardship
Indigenous Visionaries
Infrastructure
Infrastructure involves design, implementation, and sustainability of systems and structures. We support tribal colleges and universities expanding their education offerings for students in this area, with opportunities to create well-designed learning spaces with the appropriate equipment, and to sustain or expand infrastructure.