APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 31st – APPLY NOW!
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)
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
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News & Events
American Indian College Fund Publishes Tribal College and University Research Journal Volume 7
American Indian College Fund Publishes Tribal College and University Research Journal Volume 7
Focus is Student Support, Academic Outcomes and Diné Educational Philosophy
Denver, Colo., July 16, 2024 —The American Indian College Fund has published Volume 7 of the Tribal College and University Research Journal (TCURJ) featuring articles on a culturally responsive student support model, teachers’ awareness of systemic factors impeding student academic outcomes, and the Diné educational philosophy. The journal is a peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary academic publication featuring the research and best practices of tribal college and university faculty and their collaborators.
The College Fund launched the TCURJ in 2016 to support tribal college and university (TCU) faculty in disseminating their research to Indigenous communities and the wider research community. The journal publishes articles from a variety of fields such as environmental science, Indigenous health and wellness, student success, and TCU program development. The Henry Luce Foundation has generously supported publication of the journal since 2018.
All volumes of the TCURJ can be found at https://collegefund.org/research/tcurj/.
About the American Indian College Fund — The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 34 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided $17.4 million in scholarships and other direct student support to American Indian students in 2022-23. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $319 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support 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 and is one of the nation’s top 100 charities named 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
Still Time to Apply for Federal Financial Aid!
There is still time this summer to submit your application for federal financial aid. Students can receive up to $7,395 for their education per year through the Pell Grant program! Combining scholarships and federal financial aid makes good economic sense. Don’t leave money on the table. For more information and to apply, visit studentaid.gov.
Veteran Student Uses Fellowship to Lead Mental Health Awareness Efforts
“Leadership is the capacity to translate a vision into reality — Warren Bennis
By Tori Primeaux
On October 30, 2023, I heard about an opportunity through the American Indian College Fund for a fellowship for Native students who are veterans to grow as leaders as they adapt to higher education after military life. The fellowship offered mentorship and training opportunities, as well as resources and tools to strengthen their visions. I was selected with fellow veteran Cynthia Jones to participate, and in November of 2023 began to plan how I would implement my vision of becoming a mental health leader in my community.
Cynthia and I, along with our peer mentor, Kameia, were invited to attend a Women’s Leadership Program and Native Veterans Student Convening in February 2024.There we received information to help me gain a better understanding of how to step into my leadership role. It was astonishing to meet other women who held higher positions in their careers making executive decisions. Those interactions helped to boost my confidence and to allow me to be decisive as I accepted my leadership role. I also realized that Indigenous individuals can fill higher positions The stories other women at the conference shared of building their careers from the ground up influenced me as well. All of these things opened my mind to how I wanted to begin my own leadership journey and incorporate all that I had learned from this experience.
Back home, we met every week from March 15 until April 15 to discuss our plans and how to implement them. I wanted to prioritize mental health and raise awareness of the importance of seeking help, stress management, meditation, and prayer. As a college student who lives on a reservation, I know how mental health is overlooked 80% of the time. Stress is the number one factor that contributes to poor mental health in students with tests, exams, due dates, and other projects alongside maintaining physical health. The reservation is isolated and there are not enough resources there to help Native Americans. It is not easy to attend a gym like one would in a city. There are limited resources, and this is often when drugs are abused to fulfill the urge to be engaged in an activity.
As we continued to plan our event, we gathered information about how to engage with students on campus who deal with this issue. I wanted students to be engaged and want to be involved in gaining a better understanding of how to self-regulate and exercise for their well-being. On April 29, I created a presentation on mental health, sharing facts, such as how to receive help, along with how to spot friends and family who need help but may not know how to ask for it. I asked questions, involved the students, and explained my personal experience to gain trust. I explained how to get help in our community and on campus. I also led a group exercise, and those who participated received gifts and prizes. It was a day that allowed students to be involved and gain recognition for competing in an activity they can continue to use that is not expensive, doesn’t require a car, and costs nothing and can help release negative thoughts. It was a fun day for them to be exposed to tools and valuable information about mental health and to help them understand that mental health is just as important as any other health concern.
Through this opportunity I gained a better understanding of how I will use my degree to help my community and be a voice for those who need help. I learned that to understand a situation you must first put yourself in the position to know what needs to be done. I want to make more resources available and be involved.
As a veteran, I have served my country, and now, I see it as only fair that I serve my community on the reservation. I have gained a lot of knowledge and understanding to take on this role that I now know I can fulfill. The conference sparked a fire in me that I know will soon become a flame that will create a bigger fire within everyone I help. This has been an amazing experience, and I cannot wait to set forth with my commitment.
