Tribal colleges seek to approach education from the perspective of American Indian people and create an educational experience that promotes tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Indigenous studies--its mission, teaching strategies, curricular focus, research, and academic and community engagement--makes it possible for tribal colleges to fulfill the dream of their founders: the dream of a post-secondary education rooted in American Indian histories and cultural knowledge, and one that prepares students to preserve, restore, and manage resources while leading quality lives as tribal citizens.