Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships: Tribal Sovereign Education and Emerging Best Practices

1. Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships: Tribal Sovereign Education and Emerging Best Practices Deborah Esquibel Hunt American Indian College Fund August 8, 2012

2. History of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) Response to federal policy 1969 Kennedy Report Native drop out rate; student achievement behind Self-determination Era; Civil Rights Movement • 1968 – First TCU • Navajo Community College

3. 2012 • 37 TCUs – 33 accredited • Student count: 50 to 2,000 • 4 out of 5 are Native • Total: 20,000 – 250 tribes • 358 academic programs • 36 associate degrees • 13 bachelor’s degrees • 2 master’s degrees

4. Purpose and Philosophy: “Saving Nations” • Restoreand perpetuate tribal identities, values, culture and language • Reassert educational sovereignty • Holistic pedagogy- success focus • Culturally relevant and rigorous curriculum • Balance Indigenous pedagogy and with Western approaches and standards (useful and necessary) • Community education and service: “Successful students give back”

5. Mr. Bob JordainAnishinabemowin Language Teacher Leech Lake Tribal College “Language is powerful – the colonizers knew what they were doing. My language contains all we need to know in order to be successful.  Our philosophy should be - we all need to know it because it’s proactive; psychology is reactive once the damage is done.”

6. Relationships: Sense of family • respect reciprocity

7. Relevance: Place-based and community-focused

8. Rigor: High Expectations

9. Education as Healing • Identity- Restore Culture and language • Elders lead the way • Guide curriculum and pedagogy • Teach and mentor • Undo trauma effects

10. Community Impact • Appropriate and affirmative education pK-18 • Unearthing Indigenous genius • Libraries and archives • Educational role models • Expectation for achievement • Employment - reduce poverty • Cultural restoration and harmony – Wellness • Community language and cultural education • Preparing future leaders • Increased community and higher education partnerships - funding

11. Tribal College and University Success Stories • 2004-05 • 33% freshmen without diploma • 2009-10 • 1% without diploma • 77% with diploma; 22% GED • Increased completion in developmental courses (C or better) • Science: 68% success – up from 43% • Decreased withdrawal (from 38% to 21%)

12. Big Impact: First Generation • 2003-04 • 83% • 2009-2010 • 62% • 38% second or third generation • 16% Increase in degrees awarded • Native faculty doubled • 71% of administrators are Native

13. Relevance for Mainstream • TCU model addresses achievement disparities for low income/underrepresented students • Current data LI/UM and white students: • 4 year institutions • 45% versus 57% complete bachelor’s in six years • 2 year institutions • 23% versus 38% complete in four years • 7 % LI/UM students get bachelor’s degrees within 10 years Every student deserves relationship, relevance, and rigor