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

Statement on Cleveland Guardians

Statement on Cleveland Guardians

Today’s announcement that the Cleveland major league baseball team has changed the name of its franchise to The Guardians is a great step towards eradicating offensive and harmful mascots in major league sports. Statement from Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of American Indian College Fund, on the Cleveland Guardians Baseball Team

Join the New #DoublePellCampaign: Let’s Double Pell NOW!

Join the New #DoublePellCampaign: Let’s Double Pell NOW!

Please help the College Fund urge President Biden and Congress to double the maximum Pell Grant award to $13,000 per academic year NOW. We are calling all students; College Fund supporters; TCU faculty, staff, and governing boards to join this nationwide effort.

Check out these five ways you can help!

American Indian College Fund Awards Four Tribal Colleges with Four-Year Computer Science Initiative Grants

American Indian College Fund Awards Four Tribal Colleges with Four-Year Computer Science Initiative Grants

Computer science education provides today’s college students the necessary skills and opportunities to thrive in today’s world. Yet American Indian and Alaska Native peoples are still and have been historically underrepresented in the computer science fields. To remedy that, the American Indian College Fund launched its Tribal College and University Computer Science Initiative to create new and expand existing computer science programs at higher education institutions serving American Indian and Alaska Native students to meet the community and workforce needs of Indigenous communities and to provide career opportunities for Native students in computer science fields.

Journeys Matter—And So Do State Laws

Journeys Matter—And So Do State Laws

On Monday, June 28, I was privileged to be a witness. I wanted to share what I saw and heard. That day the Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, signed three pieces of legislation at the Denver Indian Center in full view of many people from the Denver Indian community and in the presence of key elected officials and government officials. He was joined by representatives of the Southern Ute Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Northern Arapaho of Wyoming as well the Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera, who oversees the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs.

Visibility Matters for Indigenous LGBQT Community

Visibility Matters for Indigenous LGBQT Community

by Ashley Joe, American Indian College Fund Student Ambassador People in marginalized communities face many struggles, and Indigenous people are no exception. Indigenous people who identify as LGBTQ are at the intersection of those struggles. LGBTQ Natives have...