Numerous studies confirm that higher education attainment directly impacts the quality of life for a nation through increasing income, political process participatory rates, and health outcomes. With this in mind, providing opportunities for American Indians to achieve academic success in higher education is imperative for the proliferation and preservation of Native American culture in society. This essay offers suggestions for possibility in answering the two questions proposed in the prompt above: (1) “If you were a tribal leader, how would you promote higher education in your family and community?” and (2) “How would you promote higher education to non-Native Americans who believe that Native Americans are provided for by gaming revenue
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Thus, by imposing their position power within their local, state, and federal government agencies, they might successfully lobby to implement meaningful programs/opportunities for students of Native American decent. Additionally, tribal leaders could seek to encourage their tribal members to advance their higher education through these opportunities, and act as “ambassadors” through fostering encouragement for the future generations of Native Americans - “lead by example” and “pay it forward”. For instance, tribal leaders may increase budget for the offices of Higher Education of their tribes by hiring resources dedicated to assisting tribal members through the process of accessing funds to assist with their higher education. In addition, tribal leaders might incentivize tribal members to continue with their higher education by allocating generous funds for scholarships based on merit coupled with financial need. Perhaps they might implement “Highest Honors” scholarships, which are strictly merit-based (i.e., students achieving a 4.0 GPA in any semester with full time college/university enrollment might receive an additional scholarship award with a letter of commendation acknowledging their academic excellence from the Chief). Likewise, tribal leaders should continue with fostering …show more content…
I’m committed, and have begun dispelling the myths I frequently hear from people upon learning that I’m a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I hold meaningful conversations by educating people on the facts in an effort to eliminate racial stereotypes. The first mythical stereotype I’m presented with is “most real American Indians live on reservations”, which is false. The reality is that approximately 538,300 (12%) of those identifying as American Indians live on reservations. Furthermore, approximately 57% of Native Americans live in metropolitan areas (Bell 228). Another misperception which I hear 99% of the time is that “American Indians receive significant entitlements from casinos and the government”. Again, this is false, although a small portion of Indian nations may benefit from gaming revenues, the majority of tribes do not. In fact, many tribes are isolated therefore casinos are not feasible, also, some tribes believe profiting from gaming runs contrary to their values therefore they do not participate in financial benefits due to gaming (Bell
Thus, by imposing their position power within their local, state, and federal government agencies, they might successfully lobby to implement meaningful programs/opportunities for students of Native American decent. Additionally, tribal leaders could seek to encourage their tribal members to advance their higher education through these opportunities, and act as “ambassadors” through fostering encouragement for the future generations of Native Americans - “lead by example” and “pay it forward”. For instance, tribal leaders may increase budget for the offices of Higher Education of their tribes by hiring resources dedicated to assisting tribal members through the process of accessing funds to assist with their higher education. In addition, tribal leaders might incentivize tribal members to continue with their higher education by allocating generous funds for scholarships based on merit coupled with financial need. Perhaps they might implement “Highest Honors” scholarships, which are strictly merit-based (i.e., students achieving a 4.0 GPA in any semester with full time college/university enrollment might receive an additional scholarship award with a letter of commendation acknowledging their academic excellence from the Chief). Likewise, tribal leaders should continue with fostering …show more content…
I’m committed, and have begun dispelling the myths I frequently hear from people upon learning that I’m a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I hold meaningful conversations by educating people on the facts in an effort to eliminate racial stereotypes. The first mythical stereotype I’m presented with is “most real American Indians live on reservations”, which is false. The reality is that approximately 538,300 (12%) of those identifying as American Indians live on reservations. Furthermore, approximately 57% of Native Americans live in metropolitan areas (Bell 228). Another misperception which I hear 99% of the time is that “American Indians receive significant entitlements from casinos and the government”. Again, this is false, although a small portion of Indian nations may benefit from gaming revenues, the majority of tribes do not. In fact, many tribes are isolated therefore casinos are not feasible, also, some tribes believe profiting from gaming runs contrary to their values therefore they do not participate in financial benefits due to gaming (Bell