Restoration and Preservation
of Traditional Native Art Forms
and Knowledge

2013 – 2020

About The Program

The American Indian College Fund has created a re-granting opportunity for Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to enhance the capacity of traditional Native art forms and knowledge at participating TCUs in the upper-Midwest. The goal of this funding is to provide resources for colleges to develop and implement more formalized traditional Native arts academic and community outreach programming. As a result, cultural knowledge and skills of traditional Native art forms indigenous to the tribe or tribal region will be shared with students and tribal communities. In addition, TCUs will be able to increase the direct support of culture bearers and established artists who are knowledgeable and skilled in traditional Native arts forms. Furthermore, master artists can participate with TCU faculty professional development, curriculum development, academic programming, and in the planning of community outreach programs.

Program Gallery

Grantees

https://www.littlehoop.edu/

Cankdeska Cikana Community College

http://www.menominee.edu/

College of Menominee Nation

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University

https://www.lltc.edu/

Leech Lake Tribal College

Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College

United Tribes Technical College

Oglala Lakota College

Sinte Gleska University

Sisseton Wahpeton College

Sitting Bull College

https://www.tm.edu/

Turtle Mountain College

White Earth Tribal and Community College

White Earth Tribal and Community College

Related Blogs

American Indian College Fund Expands Program to Develop and Refine Native Arts and Culture Curriculum

American Indian College Fund Expands Program to Develop and Refine Native Arts and Culture Curriculum

Now in its fifth grant cycle, the Native Arts and Culture Program continues the College Fund’s commitment to expanding community-centered arts programming, uplifting cultural knowledge keepers, and fostering vibrant Indigenous pedagogy across TCU campuses. Learn about the latest grant cycle and read examples of how the program supports the preservation of Indigenous arts.

Iḷisaġvik College (IC) Program Keeps Arctic Cultural Knowledge Alive

Iḷisaġvik College (IC) Program Keeps Arctic Cultural Knowledge Alive

Iḷisaġvik College’s Native arts program is helping Alaska Native students in the Arctic Circle preserve and revitalize Iñupiaq cultural knowledge. Through hands-on learning, cultural camps, and curriculum development, students gain skills in traditional art forms, healing practices, and land-based knowledge while ensuring these traditions are documented and passed down to future generations.

Part of Who You Are

Part of Who You Are

Julie Buckman interviews Ella Robertson (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), a mostly self-taught artist who teaches Native American textiles at Sisseton Wahpeton College (SWC). Robertson recalls getting her start as a child making Barbie clothes on her aunt’s sewing machine. Today she is a renowned Dakota community artist and entrepreneur specializing in many art forms and created SWC’s logo, one of her many accomplishments.

Our Program Areas

Select a program area to learn more.

Computer Science

Environmental Stewardship

Indigenous Education

Native Arts and Culture

The Iñupiat family engagement event was held at the Aimaaġvik Assisted Living Center to celebrate the season with the elder residents.

Supporting Our Relatives