Indigenous Literacy Story Series
The Indigenous Literacy Story Series seeks to shift perceptions of literacy and education in tribal nation communities, provide evidence of literacy success and innovation in tribal nation communities, establish the College Fund as a resource and leader in literacy resources, and encourage innovation and collaboration within TCUs, across TCUs, and between Native inservice teachers.
This story series features guest writers from the College Fund, TCUs, and Native educators in the field.
Indigenous Literacy is:
A means of expressing and sustaining connection, culture, and sovereignty.
The ability to communicate (tell stories, speak, write, create, teach, or demonstrate) and comprehend (listen, read, sense, interpret, view, learn, or practice).
A starting point for Native people to co-create their environment in ways that are grounded in – and sustaining of – Indigenous cultures, languages, and ways of knowing.
Relational and intergenerational, supporting kinship with each other, ancestors, and the land.
Essential to thriving Indigenous communities.
Featured Stories
Pendleton Adds Two New Blanket Designs to Benefit College Fund
Pendleton Woolen Mills added two new blanket designs to its American Indian College Fund line. The first, a crib blanket for babies, is titled the Thunderbird and the Whale. The image is inspired by the artwork of Larry Ahvakana and the Iñupiat legend of the Great Spirit Eagle.
College Fund’s 25th Anniversary LA Gala April 11
The American Indian College Fund (the College Fund) has signed Jeff Bridges & the Abiders to perform live at its 25th Anniversary Gala, to be held Saturday, April 11 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at J.W. Marriot at L.A. LIVE. This formal fundraising event will benefit Native American higher education and celebrate the College Fund’s mission to provide Native American access to higher education.
The Coca-Cola Foundation and the College Fund Honor First-Generation Scholarship Recipients
The Coca Cola Foundation and the American Indian College Fund honored 36 American Indian scholarship recipients at its 2014-15 Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship banquet at the American Indian Higher Education Consortium Student Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship was established to fund unmet need for a student’s first year in college. If students maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average and show strong participation in campus and community life, their scholarships are renewed every year throughout the students’ tribal college career. The Coca-Cola Foundation and the College Fund Honor First-Generation Scholarship Recipients
Tribal College President and Students Honored by the College Fund and Adolph Coors Foundation
The American Indian College Fund will honor American Indian scholarship recipients at its 2014-15 Student of the Year reception at the American Indian Higher Education Consortium Student Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The program, sponsored by the Adolph Coors Foundation, awarded each honoree a $1,000 scholarship. The program also honors a faculty or staff member at a tribal college and university for their leadership.
College Fund Takes Gen-I Challenge, Pledges Support for White House Initiative for Native Youth
The American Indian College Fund (the College Fund) announced at the American Indian Higher Education Consortium Student Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico that it is pledging its full support for Generation Indigenous (Gen-I), an initiative launched by President Obama to improve the lives of Native youth by removing barriers that stand between them and opportunities for success.
Emeritus Trustee Gail Bruce Honored by Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Multicultural Audience Development Initiative
American Indian College Fund emeritus trustee Gail Bruce was honored at a special reception on March 9 by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Multicultural Audience Development Initiative (MADI), as part of Women’s History Month. Gail was one of the original founders of the American Indian College Fund and is an entrepreneur, artist, and American Indian activist, and was honored for her work at the Met as well as her work in Native higher education.
AT&T Grows Next Generation of Native American Leaders through 22-Year Partnership
Waylon Ballew (Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation/Northern Cheyenne) believes tradition is an important part of higher education. In order for him to be a community leader, Waylon said he must carry his traditions forward for future generations. Growing up on Bellingham Bay in northwest Washington state, Waylon said he was immersed in community youth leadership programs, where he incorporated leadership training in community youth tribal canoe journeys as he traveled ancestral waterways to potlatches (gatherings).
Tribal College Students Embracing ECE Initiatives at NWIC
Things are moving fast at the Northwest Indian College and the Lummi community. For the last three and a half years of collaboration and planning on behalf of the Wakanyeja “Sacred Little Ones” Early Childhood Education Initiative by the American Indian College Fund, the leadership and partnerships have created many exciting new opportunities for families and children in the Lummi community.
Policy and Education Experts to Speak on Native Family Engagement in Early Childhood Education
William (Bill) Mendoza, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, Oglala-Sicangu Lakota, and a professional educator with experience as a teacher and a principal, is speaking at the American Indian College Fund’s convening on Native Family Engagement as part of The Ké’ Early Childhood Initiative (Ké’ ECE Initiative) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, being held March 9-10.
NWIC Brings Family Engagement to Lummi Community
Our first Family Engagement activity was an Ey’ Snat Family Fun Night in September held in conjunction with Sacred Little Ones partner site Lummi Head Start. We wanted families to get to experience a salmon barbeque with salmon cooked in the traditional way.
