In a historic confirmation, Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park has been chosen to serve as one of the United States District Judges for the District of Hawaii. Her esteemed position makes her the first Native Hawaiian to serve as a district court judge, an especially impactful feat as Native Hawaiians make up over a quarter of her district’s population. “Federal courts hear many cases involving Native people, so federal court judges must be aware of the political status, legal principles, and rights of Tribal Nations and Native individuals,” the Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund John Echohawk said in…
Author: Native Origins Community
The American Indian College Fund invites Native Americans working in academia to participate in Indigenous higher education policy listening sessions.Who should join: Indigenous faculty, student services personnel, and academic administrators whose research influences policy development or could be used for policy.Why: The College Fund is joining with Indigenous faculty, student services personnel, academic administrators, and higher education policy organizations to examine the state of Native Higher Education Policy and to offer recommendations to improve policy development and implementation.Purpose: Facilitators will engage participants in a recorded discussion that gathers information about scholars’ work, their interests in strengthening policy engagement, and insights…
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) recently unveiled its collaboration with Allspring Global Investments, a prominent asset management firm, to introduce a unique offering: the Tribal Inclusion share class within the Allspring Government Money Market Fund. Wells Fargo reports that this share class will be exclusively available to Wells Fargo corporate clients and marks the first money market product with a charitable donation component aimed at supporting tribal communities across the United States.“As a long-term supporter of Native American and Alaska Native communities, we are delighted to partner with Allspring on the launch of their first money market fund share…
The American Indian College Fund selected Dr. Charles M. Roessel, President of Diné College, as its 2023-2024 Tribal College President Honoree of the Year. This award is granted to a distinguished individual who has made a positive and lasting impact on the tribal college movement. Dr. Roessel grew up on the Navajo Reservation. His parents, Robert and Ruth Roessel, played key roles in creating Navajo Community College (now Diné College), the first tribal college, in 1968. Although his father served as the institution’s first president, Dr. Roessel never expected to follow in his footsteps.After graduating from Chinle High School and…
By Dr. Fawzia Reza  In our globally connected world, developing inclusive practices allows us to work collaboratively and effectively with diverse stakeholders. Although many organizations understand the benefits of a diverse workforce, they often fall short in attracting and then retaining diverse employees. A checklist identifying the best inclusive practices for recruiting can be a valuable resource for organizations that want to hire and retain diversity within their organization.As the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) manager at an asynchronous remote educational institution, I recently shared some steps below that might foster a sense of belonging and promote hiring retention of diverse…
Lily Gladstone, of Siksikaitsitapi and Niimiipuu heritage, has achieved a historic milestone as the first Native American actress to receive an Oscar nomination at the 96th Academy Awards. Nominated for her role in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” where she portrays real-life figure Mollie Kyle alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, Gladstone’s performance in the 1920s Oklahoma-set crime drama highlights the murders of Osage tribe members by white men seeking to exploit oil rights.In addition to her Academy Award nomination, Gladstone recently made Golden Globes history by becoming the first Indigenous person to win the award for…
Five TCUs to be supported in Building Pathways to Rural and Tribal EmploymentAscendium Education Group, in partnership with the American Indian College Fund (the College Fund), has awarded a $2.5 million grant to five tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) to further their work in building meaningful career pathways. This four-year project will focus on implementing and assessing different academic progression and career readiness approaches to determine the best practices for increasing the number of employable American Indian and Alaska Native graduates.The project will help identify gaps in student success from academic progression to career readiness and develop campus-specific solutions. Processes…
Kelley Mitchell, Diné (Navajo), American Indian College Fund Program Officer for College Access and Success, has been selected to participate in a year-long Neighborhood Builders Leadership program offered by the Bank of America. This opportunity comes as part of the Neighborhood Builders Social Equity Award presented to College Fund President and CEO, Cheryl Crazy Bull, in October. Crazy Bull was also given the chance to direct a $200,000 grant to the College Fund.The leadership program provides strategic growth and development training to set long-term success. As a participant in one of the nation’s largest and longest-standing philanthropic nonprofit leadership development…
In a significant nod to Native American valor, the U.S. Navy continues its tradition of honoring Indigenous heroes by naming its latest salvage and rescue vessel after a distinguished Native American Navy figure. The newest ship in the Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue (T-ATS) series is named after Solomon Atkinson, an Alaskan Native and a trailblazing Navy SEAL, marking another chapter in the Navy’s ongoing commitment to recognizing the vital contributions of Native Americans to the U.S. military.Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro announced the honor on Metlakatla’s Founders Day, held in the Metlakatla Indian Community, Annette Islands…
November marks the celebration of Native American History month, a time where we come together and celebrate Indigenous culture, accomplishments and people in the Americas.For almost 100 years, Americans both Indian and non-Indian have advocated for a permanently designated place on the calendar to honor the contributions, achievements, sacrifices, and cultural and historical legacy of the original inhabitants of what is now the United States and their descendants: the American Indian and Alaska Native people.The quest for a national honoring of Native Americans began in the early 20th century as a private effort. As far back as the late 1970s,…
