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Wi’áaşal (Great Oak) Future Leaders Scholarship Fund

for Most Enrolled California Tribal Members

Established in 2019, The Wi’áaşal (Great Oak) Future Leaders Scholarship Fund was born out of the longstanding traditions, values, and vision of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians – who have demonstrated their commitment to education and economic development, time and time again. Today, their impact is expanded through the Wi’áaşal (Great Oak) Future Leaders Scholarship, which provides greatly needed support to Native students across the state of California.

The Wi’áaşal (Great Oak) Future Leaders Scholarship Fund is open to most enrolled California tribal members.
Up to $20,000 is available each year to students seeking vocational, associates or bachelors degrees at any accredited, nonprofit college, university or vocational program.

Eligibility:

  • Enrolled in a certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree program at an accredited, non-profit college or university
  • Full-time enrollment
  • Registered as an enrolled member of an eligible California tribe (listed below)
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Eligible California Tribes:

  • Alturas Indian Rancheria
  • Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria
  • Big Lagoon Rancheria
  • Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley (previously listed as the Big Pine Band of Owens Valley Paiute
  • Shoshone Indians of the Big Pine Reservation)
  • Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians of
  • California (previously listed as the Big Sandy Rancheria of
  • Mono Indians of California)
  • Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley
  • Rancheria
  • Bishop Paiute Tribe (previously listed as the Paiute-
  • Shoshone Indians of the Bishop Community of the Bishop Colony)
  • Bridgeport Indian Colony (previously listed as the
  • Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony of California)
  • Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California
  • Cahto Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria
  • Cahuilla Band of Indians (previously listed as the Cahuilla
  • Band of Mission Indians of the Cahuilla Reservation)
  • California Valley Miwok Tribe
  • Cedarville Rancheria
  • Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of the Chemehuevi Reservation
  • Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria
  • Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California
  • Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California
  • Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California
  • Colorado River Indian Tribes of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, Arizona and California
  • Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California
  • Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the Sulphur Bank Rancheria
  • Elk Valley Rancheria
  • Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California
  • Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians
  • Fort Bidwell Indian Community of the Fort Bidwell Reservation of California
  • Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians of the Fort Independence Reservation
  • Fort Mojave Indian Tribe of Arizona, California & Nevada
  • Greenville Rancheria (previously listed as the Greenville
  • Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California)
  • Grindstone Indian Rancheria of Wintun-Wailaki Indians of California
    Guidiville Rancheria of California
  • Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake
  • Hoopa Valley Tribe
  • Hopland Band of Pomo Indians (formerly Hopland Band of Pomo Indians of the Hopland Rancheria)
  • Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel (previously listed as the Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Santa Ysabel Reservation)
  • Inaja Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Inaja and Cosmit Reservation
  • Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California Karuk Tribe (previously listed as the Karuk Tribe of California)
  • Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria
  • Kletsel Dehe Band of Wintun Indians (previously listed as the Cortina Indian Rancheria and the Cortina Indian Rancheria of Wintun Indians of California)
  • Koi Nation of Northern California (previously listed as the Lower Lake Rancheria)
  • La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians (previously listed as the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of theLa Jolla Reservation)
  • La Posta Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the La Posta Indian Reservation
  • Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe (previously listed as the Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Lone Pine Community of the Lone Pine Reservation)
  • Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians (previously listed as the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla & Cupeno Indians of the Los Coyotes Reservation)
  • Lytton Rancheria of California
  • Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester Rancheria (previously listed as the Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria)
  • Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Manzanita Reservation
  • Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria
  • Mesa Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Mesa Grande Reservation
  • Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California
  • Pinoleville Pomo Nation (previously listed as the Pinoleville Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California)
  • Pit River Tribe (includes XL Ranch, Big Bend, Likely, Lookout, Montgomery Creek and Roaring Creek Rancherias)
  • Potter Valley Tribe
  • Quartz Valley Indian Community of the Quartz Valley Reservation of California
  • Ramona Band of Cahuilla (previously listed as the Ramona Band or Village of Cahuilla Mission Indians of California)
  • Redwood Valley or Little River Band of Pomo Indians of the Redwood Valley Rancheria California (previously listed as the Redwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California)
  • Resighini Rancheria
  • Robinson Rancheria (previously listed as the Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, California and theRobinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California)
  • Round Valley Indian Tribes, Round Valley Reservation (previously listed as the Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation)
  • Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians (previously listed as the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians of the Santa Rosa Reservation)
  • Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California
  • Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California
  • Susanville Indian Rancheria
  • Tejon Indian Tribe
  • Timbisha Shoshone Tribe (previously listed as the Death Valley Timbi-sha Shoshone Tribe and the Death Valley Timbi-Sha Shoshone Band of California)
  • Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation (previously listed as the Smith River Rancheria)
  • Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians (previously listed as the Torres-Martinez Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians of California)
  • Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation
  • Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California (Carson Colony, Dresslerville Colony, Woodfords Community, Stewart Community, & Washoe Ranches)
  • Wilton Rancheria
  • Wiyot Tribe (previously listed as the Table Bluff Reservation—Wiyot Tribe)
  • Yurok Tribe of the Yurok Reservation

Related Pages

Full Circle & Tribal College Scholarships

Tribal Colleges

College Success

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News & Events

American Indian College Fund Scholarship Application Season Opens February 1

American Indian College Fund Scholarship Application Season Opens February 1

Prospective Applicants Invited to Attend Introductory Webinar

January 14, 2025, Denver, Colo. – The American Indian College Fund’s (College Fund) scholarship application season for the 2025-26 academic year opens on February 1. There are hundreds of scholarship opportunities available for all fields of study, including special opportunities uniquely available for students enrolled in tribal colleges and universities. Any U.S. citizen who is an enrolled member or descendant of an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe may apply. Applicants must also have a minimum 2.0 grade point average and plan to enroll as a full-time student at a nonprofit, accredited college or university.

To help students understand the application process and the many scholarships available to them, the College Fund is hosting a free scholarship kick-off webinar at 6:00 p.m. MST on February 1. To attend please register online at https://collegefund.org/kickoff25.

About the American Indian College Fund — The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 35 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided $20.5 million in scholarships and other direct student support for access to a higher education steeped in Native culture and values to American Indian students in 2023-24. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $349 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of programs at the nation’s 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators. It earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a Gold Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, and the “Best in America Seal of Excellence” from the Independent Charities of America. The College Fund was also named as one of the nation’s top 100 charities to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org.

Journalists—The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund.

Vicki Besaw – A Dissertation Story

Vicki Besaw

Vicki Besaw (Lac Courte Oreilles Lake Superior Ojibwe Tribe) didn’t expect to go back to college at age 54 to pursue her doctorate. She had been working for the College of Menominee Nation (CMN) since 2006, having started her education career in the K-12 system. But joining the faculty at CMN showed her there was more to teaching than simply helping students learn in the classroom. Students silently grappled with trauma and needed a safe space to explore the issues they faced to heal. Vicki decided to use storytelling to create that safe pathway for her students. And so, she enrolled in the First Nations Education Doctorate program at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.

For her dissertation, Vicki conducted an autoethnographical study to examine how educators can use Indigenous story methodology to provide a safe space for students to explore their own life stories. These life stories can help students to understand the impact of trauma on their life decisions and outcomes. Elders have used Indigenous stories for generations. Rather than overtly correcting or chastising individuals, they would often tell a story about themselves or someone else related to an issue. It was up to the listener to process and use this information in a manner that would help them most. This avoided shaming or blaming individuals and allowed for self-direction in a non-accusatory manner. Using an Indigenous story methodology, Vicki shared her own stories in her classroom so students did not have to put themselves in vulnerable positions or feel compelled to share personal information.

Through her research study, Vicki not only identified ways to better support her students but also saw intergenerational healing begin in her own family. Her mother, who had experienced childhood trauma and often felt disconnected, began writing her stories, and her son took up journaling again. Vicki emphasized that this healing work with students can open old wounds. An educator cannot simply discuss trauma in the classroom and then walk away. Educators must care for their students beyond class hours.

Vicki also noted that her work at a tribal college offers her a unique position to address trauma. She worked on her own challenges for 60 years and after identifying a way to help others, she feels she must contribute to healing. She is working to ensure CMN includes the lessons learned from her study in its English curriculum. She would also like to publish her series of 43 stories as a book, making it available outside of academia to reach more people who might benefit from those stories.

Vicki said the Mellon Faculty Career Enhancement Fellowship program with the American Indian College Fund (College Fund) was instrumental in helping her earn a doctorate. Other funding resources had dried up and she was hesitant to take on student loan debt so late in her career. As a Mellon Fellow she received funding and ongoing support from the College Fund and participated in a writing retreat, a faculty convening, and other cohort activities.

Vicki views earning her doctoral degree as a way to give back to her community.  Her greatest hope is that her work will help others find meaning in their experiences.

American Indian College Fund and Pendleton Woolen Mills Student Blanket Contest Opens November 15

American Indian College Fund and Pendleton Woolen Mills Student Blanket Contest Opens November 15

Students Can Win Scholarships, Blankets, and Cash Prizes

Denver, Colo. November 15, 2024— Starting November 15, the American Indian College Fund and Pendleton Woolen Mills, the international lifestyle brand headquartered in Portland, Oregon, are accepting submissions for The Tribal College Blanket Design Contest. American Indian and Alaska Native students attending a tribal college or university are eligible to submit up to two designs. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2025.

Now in its fifth year, the Tribal College Blanket Design Contest elevates the work of promising artists attending tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). Competition winners will have their designs distributed on products internationally and receive scholarships and cash prizes. Winning designs are featured on wool blankets in Pendleton’s American Indian College Fund collection. Pendleton has worked with the College Fund since 1995 and has provided over $1.3 million in scholarship support for American Indian and Alaska Native students attending TCUs.

Located on Indian reservations and in remote, rural areas, TCUs provide a critical link to higher education, career advancement, and Indigenous knowledge for their communities. Every year the College Fund provides millions of dollars to thousands of TCU students; the blanket design contest adds to that support while elevating Native art, culture, and stories.

Submission guidelines and applications are available on the College Fund’s website at https://collegefund.org/pendletoncontest. Any American Indian or Alaska Native student attending a TCU can submit up to two designs. Formal artistic study and textile design experience are not required.

Contest design winners are selected each year by a committee comprised of Native American artists and College Fund and Pendleton staff.

Prizes for the 2024 contest winners include:

  • Grand Prize Winner:
    • $2,000 cash
    • $5,000 scholarship
    • Six blankets
  • Second Place Winner:
    • $500 cash
    • $2,500 scholarship
  • Third Place Winner:
    • $250 cash
    • $1,500 scholarship

 

The Drum Keepers blanket design created Trey Blackhawk. Pendleton Woolen Mills produced the blanket.

Trey Blackhawk (Winnebago), is the 2023 contest winner and designer of Drum Keepers. Blackhawk is a graduate of Little Priest Tribal College with a degree in liberal arts who is currently working on an applied sciences degree. Traditional songs were the inspiration for Drum Keepers, which Blackhawk said holds meaning for all tribes, as each uses the drum in some way. He wondered how the traditional songs of each community had been preserved and passed down and wanted to create a piece that reflected the importance of the drum that gives life to the traditional songs that are sung.

Blackhawk said, “I want to keep the songs alive that have been sung for many generations in our tribe. There are not many of us that sing, and I wanted to be a part of that percentage that carries on the knowledge of these songs we sing. I tell the younger generation to start learning how to sing and know these songs, as these songs make us who we are.”

About Pendleton Woolen Mills—Pendleton Woolen Mills is a heritage lifestyle brand and the leader in wool blankets, apparel and accessories. Weaving in Oregon since 1863 and located in Portland, Oregon, Pendleton weaves iconic designs in two of America’s remaining woolen mills located in Pendleton, Oregon and Washougal, Washington. With six generations of family ownership, Pendleton is focused on their “Warranted to Be a Pendleton” legacy, creating quality lifestyle products with timeless classic styling. Inspiring individuals from the Pacific Northwest and beyond for 160 years, Pendleton products are available at Pendleton stores across the US, select retailers worldwide, and on pendleton-usa.com.

About the American Indian College Fund — The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 35 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided $20.6 million in scholarships and other direct student support for access to a higher education that is steeped in Native culture and values to American Indian students in 2023-24. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $349 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of programs at the nation’s 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators. It earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a Gold Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, and the “Best in America Seal of Excellence” from the Independent Charities of America. The College Fund was also named as one of the nation’s top 100 charities to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org.

Journalists: The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund.