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

Guest Blog From Student Intern Deanna

Guest Blog From Student Intern Deanna

As some of you know from visiting museums, not everything that is displayed on exhibit is owned by that particular museum. It is common practice for museums to loan items out to other institutions. For example, I recently visited the new Southern Ute Cultural Center...

Ben Plucknett Charitable Trust Gives More Than $11,000

The American Indian College Fund (the Fund) received a gift in April 2011 of more than $11,000 from the Boise, Idaho-based Ben Plucknett Charitable Trust towards the matching grant challenge to support the Johnson Scholarship Foundation Endowed Entrepreneurship Scholarship Program.

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation Grant for Oral Health Scholarship

The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation donated $10,000 to the American Indian College Fund in support of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation Oral Health Tribal College Scholarship Program. Established in 2002, the program has allowed American Indian students to pursue a degree at an accredited tribal college and university in an oral health field, such as allied health-dental, pre-dentistry, dental assisting technology, dental hygiene, dental surgery, and/or orthodontics.

Citi Foundation $50,000 Grant for Scholarships and Careers

Denver, Colorado – August 4, 2011 – The Citi Foundation granted $50,000 to the American Indian College Fund to continue the Citi Foundation Scholarship & Career Exploration Program. This program provides scholarships to Native students attending the following tribal colleges and universities in South Dakota: Sisseton Wahpeton College, Oglala Lakota College, or Sinte Gleska University.