In 2016, a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars came together to imagine a better world through a bold approach to education at the Werklund School of Education. This imagining took the form of a newly designed graduate pathway program which focused on meaningfully and actively responding to Canada's Truth and Reconciliation…

The American Indian presence in Montana enriches the state's culture. Educationally, however, there are gross disparities between academic performance of American Indian students when compared with the student population as a whole and with various ethnic/cultural subgroups. Montana's educational data mirror the Bureau of Indian Education national…

On May 2, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and the West Comprehensive Center (WCC) at WestEd facilitated a half-day pre-conference for tribal leaders and educators participating in the 2016 Southwest Pathways Conference (which was held May 2-4). The gathering raised awareness about critical education, health, and well-being issues…

The goal of the ANCESTOR program is to use digital storytelling as a means of promoting an interest in technology careers for Aboriginal learners, as well as increasing cultural literacy. A curriculum was developed and first tested with Aboriginal students at the LÁU,WELNEW Tribal School near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Based on feedback…

The Native American Community Academy (NACA) is demonstrating an example of Indigenous philosophies and practices in education through its holistic, student-centered approach to education. NACA was one school in a large statewide study on Indian education in New Mexico. Focus groups with students, teachers, and community members illustrate the…

The paper proposes a transcultural model that emphasizes the importance of handicapped Indian children acquiring skills and knowledge of their majority culture without sacrificing their cultural identity. The values and history of the Miccosukee tribe from Florida are discussed, as are the philosophy and organization of a Bureau of Indian Affairs…

Although tribal colleges were created to provide autonomy in higher education for American Indians, these colleges are dependent upon external sources for funds, personnel, and part of their legitimacy. Facing two sets of expectations, tribal-college administrators must manage problems experienced by their Indian clientele and adjust institutional…

Evaluation at the end of the first year of a 3-year project to use microcomputers to improve the reading and language skills of Limited English Proficient (LEP) Native American students revealed that the major objective was not reached, but there were achievements nonetheless. Lakota (Sioux) children constitute 10% of the Rapid City, South Dakota…

The Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative (AKRSI) was established in 1994 under the auspices of the Alaska Native/Rural Education Consortium, representing over 50 organizations impacting education in rural Alaska. AKRSI's institutional homebase and support structure are provided by the Alaska Federation of Natives in cooperation with the University of…

The curriculum development project at Pretty Eagle School (a private school on the Crow Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana serving 100 students, prekindergarten through grade 8) was started in the fall 1980 with funding acquired from federal and private sources. A comprehensive program of curriculum development and staff development was…

A consortium of parent councils, developed in the Menominee Indian School District (MISD) in Keshena, Wisconsin, is described. MISD was a participant in a group of member schools that were entitled to purchase various federal services. MISD had problems concerning the required formation of parent councils for participating in federal programs. The…

This paper discusses the contribution of school-based mother-tongue literacy to the maintenance and renewal of endangered languages, with Navajo as the case in point. Although Navajo claims the most speakers among U.S. indigenous languages, the absolute number and relative proportion of Navajo speakers have declined drastically in the last 30…

Native American education did not begin with European-style schools; it began at home with traditional storytelling. Traditional stories aimed to share wisdom, not to force it. Children can only understand certain things when they are mature enough to do so. Each time a story was told, the listener could learn new morals and life instructions.…

This paper reviews educational problems affecting American Indian students, particularly problems related to school climate, and describes efforts to improve school climate at Bennett County (South Dakota) High School. This public school serves the county and two reservations. It also accepts transfer students from Bureau of Indian Affairs schools…

The desire for students to understand and respect each other is a primary motivation for the effort to integrate multicultural education into all aspects of the Anchorage School District (Alaska) curriculum. The Anchorage curriculum emphasizes the cultural heritage of Alaska Natives, other resident ethnic groups and Pacific Rim cultures. In recent…