Ihduwiyayapi: Advancing Indigenous
Early Childhood Education
2021-Ongoing
About The Program
The Ihduwiyayapi: Advancing Indigenous Early Childhood Education program partners with tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) to build the capacity of their early childhood education programs and improve teacher education through family and community outreach, enhanced child developmental pedagogy, pathways development, enhanced capacity, and engagement in national conversations about ECE best practices and lessons learned.
The program piloted in 2021 through $600,000 and $350,000 grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Heising-Simons Foundation, respectively. The Bezos Family Foundation has since committed a $5.3 million grant over four years of a broader $11.3 million program plan.
Ihduwiyayapi can be translated from Dakota to “they are getting ready.” Its meaning conveys that those involved in the programming are preparing themselves and their programs for what will come next, they are preparing a foundation for the advancement of Indigenous Early Childhood Education.
Indigenous Early Childhood Education Blogs
Articles and success from the College Fund programs team.
American Indian College Fund Receives $5.315 Million to Support Indigenous Early Childhood Education
Denver, Colo.—October 6, 2021– The American Indian College Fund’s Indigenous Early Childhood Education program is poised to continue its work at tribal colleges and universities over the next four years thanks to a $5,315,000 grant from the Bezos Family Foundation.
Indigenous ECE Family Engagement Webinar with Janice LaFloe
The American Indian College Fund’s Strategic Planning and Building TCU ECE Family Engagement Grant provides TCUs support for family engagement and wellness in Native communities during the pandemic. This may include sending families early childhood learning kits, organizing virtual story time or language lessons, or assisting families with meals and basic needs.
For the Wisdom of the Children Meets COVID-19
By Janine Pease, For the Wisdom of the Children LBHC Project Director Just as we were rounding the turn to the last leg of the school year, the COVID-19 Pandemic hit. The Montana governor declared a Shelter in Home order in response to the coronavirus, and all public...
Grantees
Thank you to our Grantees for supporting this program.
2021-2022 Pilot Cohort
Blackfeet Community College
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
Little Priest Tribal College
Northwest Indian College
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Stone Child College
2022-2023 Cohort
College of Menominee Nation
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
Little Priest Tribal College
Navajo Technical University
Stone Child College
Other Programs
Select a program to learn more.
How to Help
Currently only 15% of American Indians hold college degrees. But with 42% of Native Americans being 24 years old or younger, you have the opportunity to make an incredible impact for this generation and generations to come when you donate today.