why are native americans starting there own colleges? i'm native so i would like to know from others?

Question

anything from the native american persepective would really help i'm writing an article about this for a newspaper in a city and i would just like to know like why now?

i'am a pawnee-seminole native and i just would like to know from other tribes what they think about this and how it is affecting the other universities.

Answer 1

I am not Native, but I teach Native Studies at a non-Native university, and I can tell you this:

It is sometimes difficult for Native students who practice traditional religions to stay in (and graduate from) non-Native colleges and universities.

The academic schedule is not flexible enough for students to return home for important religious activities or family responsibilities, and often, it is an economic hardship for Native students to get home at all.

Non-Native colleges also lag behind in providing opportunities to study many Native languages and cultures, so Native students often do not have access to the instruction they desire the most.

In my opinion, it was a shame that DQU lost its credentials, and that so many tribal colleges are underfunded and poorly staffed. Tribal colleges are a tremendously important resource for Native students, and should be supported in every way possible.

It may be that with more and more nations finally having access to the huge amounts of money it takes to establish and run a tribal college, more nations might be considering this option. It seems to me that any nation with the resources to found a college should do so. These colleges could then have as their central mission the fulfillment of the specific higher educational needs and desires of the young people of that nation. They could also have the ability to hire elders of that nation as teachers of culture and language.

I hope you get lots of responses, since I'd love to hear what others have to say on this topic, too.

This is not to say that there are not wonderful opportunities for Native students in non-Native universities. My university, for example, has a cooperative agreement with the nation whose traditional lands the university is located upon. Students from this nation can attend my university tuition-free, language instruction is available, and professors are asked to be as flexible as possible in helping traditional students to maintain their family ties and religious responsibilities. There are Native professors from this nation on our faculty, which also helps a lot.

Answer 2

This is a very good thing. Keeps young folks closer to home. Builds sense of community. Makes jobs on the rez. Reinforces the tribal culture. Broadens acquaintanceship among the people.