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
American Indian College Fund Receives $20,000 for Scholarships from Newmont Mining Corporation
Newmont Mining Corporation awarded $20,000 to the American Indian College Fund to provide scholarship support to students from Colorado and/or who are from historically affiliated Colorado tribes with a minimum 2.5 grade point average. The program will provide four students attending tribal colleges or universities with a $2,500 scholarship and three students attending mainstream Colorado colleges or universities with a $3,000 scholarship during the 2012-13 academic year.
International Advertising Firm Wieden+Kennedy Honors Founder David Kennedy with $10,000 Gift
The international award-winning advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy has given $10,000 for an endowed scholarship to benefit a student attending the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The scholarship was established in 2009 by Wieden+Kennedy to honor David Kennedy, the company’s co-founder who has been the guiding creative force behind the American Indian College Fund’s public service announcements for more than 20 years, at his retirement, and pledged gifts of $10,000 for each subsequent year until 2012.
Native students CAN fight diabetes
Many Native students are entering health care fields to stem the tide of diabetes that is engulfing Indian Country. However, you don’t have to give in to the thought that diabetes is inevitable just because you are Native. Sure, it’s important for Indian Country to have trained health care workers to treat those who already have been diagnosed with diabetes, but the war on diabetes is best fought with prevention.
American Indian College Fund Receives $200,000 from USA Funds for Scholarships
USA Funds awarded $200,000 to the American Indian College Fund to provide scholarship support to American Indian students attending tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) across the United States. The USA Funds Tribal College Scholarship Program will provide 90 scholarships of $2,000 each to Native students. In the last decade, this program has helped nearly 2,000 students work toward obtaining a higher education.
The Fund and Brazelton Touchpoints Center ® Partner for Early Childhood Education Projects
The Wakanyeja “Sacred Little Ones” Early Childhood Education Initiative at the American Indian College Fund announces a partnership with the Brazelton Tribal Touchpoints Initiative at the Brazelton Touchpoints Center® in Boston, Massachusetts.
Native Students Honored at AIHEC Conference
Over the weekend the American Indian College Fund held two events at the AIHEC Student Conference. On Saturday night the 33 American Indian College Fund Students of the Year (SOY) were recognized. Also honored was Dr. Verna Fowler (President of College of Menominee Nation) as the TCU President of the Year.
The Coca-Cola Foundation and The Fund Honor First-Generation Scholarship Recipients
Coca-Cola Scholarship recipient Larry P. Madden (Stockbridge-Munsee), a humanities major at the College of Menominee Nation gives a speech to his peers during the annual banquet at the 2012 AIHEC Student Conference. “I am here to express my humble gratitude, not only for myself, but all of Indian Country…for the efforts of the Coca-Cola Company, who has taken the time to just rememeber us; because we are often forgotten in the field of academics,” he said.
Cigna Foundation Grants $29,000 to American Indian College Fund for Scholarships
The Cigna Foundation has granted $29,000 to the American Indian College Fund (the Fund) to support Native scholarships through the Cigna Foundation Tribal Scholars Healthcare Program. The grant will provide 10 scholarships to Native students studying at select tribal colleges and universities and mainstream institutions.
Lowe’s Grants American Indian College Fund $50,000
The American Indian College Fund and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation today announced a grant of $50,000 for a new scholarship program to support American Indian students. The grant will fund scholarships for qualified Native students in their final year of college who have financial need to complete their degree.
Stop by American Indian College Fund Booth at AIHEC
If you are a student attending the AIHEC conference in South Dakota, be sure to stop by the American Indian College Fund’s booth to learn about how to apply for scholarships.
American Indian College Fund staffer Jaime Aguilar will also be on hand to gather stories about your experiences during your studies and your photos.
