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

Walking the Path: A First‑Generation Journey into Counseling

Walking the Path: A First‑Generation Journey into Counseling

Keshia is a first‑generation college student pursuing a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Chadron State College, where she will be graduating in summer 2026. She currently serves as a Wellness Counselor at United Tribes Technical College and is interning at DeCoteau Trauma‑Informed Care and Practice, PLLC in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Living the Earth Lodge Village Life

Living the Earth Lodge Village Life

In the summer of 2024, the College Fund awarded Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College’s (NHSC) Early Childhood Program the Ihduwiyaypi: Advancing Indigenous Early Childhood Education grant. This wonderful funding opportunity is strengthening our programming, growing our partnerships, enhancing learning for our children from birth through age eight, and promoting the Community of Practice (CoP). This work brings together six geographically separate community segments across the expansive homelands of the MHA Nation!