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
College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute Names New Director
Jennifer Gauthier has been named the Director of the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) at the College of Menominee Nation (CMN). Jennifer will assume leadership of SDI on September 11, 2023. SDI was organized in 1993 by tribal community leaders representing a broad spectrum of institutional interests including governance, commerce, education, and natural resource management.
Danny Luecke of Turtle Mountain Community College and Dr. David Sanders of American Indian College Fund Co-author Research on Growing Math and Dakota/Lakota Language Fluency Together
The focus of tribal colleges’ work is to seek connections between the cultures and heritage of the Indigenous communities they serve and mainstream education curricula. Danny Luecke (enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), a member of the Teacher Education Department at Turtle Mountain Community College, and Dr. David Sanders (enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe), Vice President of Research at the American Indian College Fund, explored the connections between math content, local culture, and the classroom.
College of Menominee Nation Receives Reaffirmation of Accreditation
The College of Menominee Nation (CMN) received a final decision from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Institutional Actions Council to reaffirm the accreditation of the college for the next ten years. The accreditation shows that CMN is meeting quality standards as an institution of higher education.
Dr. Tomi Kay Phillips takes the helm of Sitting Bull College as new president
The Sitting Bull College Board of Trustees has named Dr. Phillips the new president of Sitting Bull College.
American Indian College Fund’s Ded Unskanpi Adult Basic Education Program to Address Education Gap for Native Students
The American Indian College Fund’s Ded Unskanpi (which translates from Dakota as “we start here”) Adult Basic Education Program will support five tribal college and university (TCU) partners through June 2024.
College of the Muscogee Nation’s President Appointed to the Newly Established Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Postsecondary Commission
OKMULGEE, Okla. – The College of the Muscogee Nation (CMN) is proud to announce that its president, Dr. Monte Randall, was named as a commissioner with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the newly established Carnegie Postsecondary Commission....
SGU Connects Arts and Culture to GED Classroom
Sinte Gleska University’s high school equivalency students become grounded in their cultural identities as they lead community engagement efforts through Native Arts workshops.
College Fund Research and Evaluation Associate Publishes Article on Faculty Evaluation Research
Dr. Kayla Alkire-Stewart (Standing Rock Sioux Nation), who joined the American Indian College Fund as a research and evaluation associate in 2023, published an article about faculty evaluations at tribal colleges and universities in the Tribal College Journal.
National Native Scholarships Providers Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Student Loan Forgiveness
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding student loan forgiveness, the NNSP shares how this decision will affect Tribal communities and calls on policymakers and higher education institutions alike to make a college education affordable for all.
American Indian College Fund Appoints Four New Members of Board of Trustees
The American Indian College Fund has appointed two tribal college presidents and two private sector professionals to its governing board of trustees.
