Indigenous K-12 school leaders contribute to Tribal Nation building by leading schools that recognize and embed student culture. A large body of literature suggests the importance of culturally responsive leadership and recognizing students' cultural strengths within the foundations of the school. Indigenous K-12 school leaders' work toward…

This article presents a tool and discusses the rationale for the authors' development of a tool designed to assess the alignment of culturally responsive schooling principles within schools serving predominantly U.S. Indigenous students. Schools that serve a majority of Indigenous students are generally located on or bordering Native Nations that…

"Rural Education in America" provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the diversity and complexity of rural communities in the United States and for helping rural educators implement and evaluate successful place-based programs tailored for students and their families. Written by educators who grew up in rural America and…

This brief provides contextual information and descriptions of select programs and practices serving Native students, regarding state identification and support, representation of Native student interest, and locally created examples. The National Comprehensive Center's American Indian and Alaska Native Education Project developed this brief to…

The purpose of this bibliography is to examine factors that may help prevent Native American students from dropping out of school. This document draws from the literature that describes best and promising practices that may address the needs of this vulnerable population. The 30 articles whose abstracts are included in this publication represent a…

This monograph offers an in-depth look at the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Rural Systemic Initiative (RSI) efforts, an investment of more than $140 million to reform mathematics and science programs in rural K-12 public education and tribal education. The authors seek to promote a foundation of contextual understanding for improving public…

Discusses the use of satellite technology as an option for public schools to access the Internet. Examines costs and available technology. Presents two examples of school-satellite usage, including its use by the Navajo Nation to provide Internet access for its students who are spread out across 26,000 square miles. (GR)

Explores how interaction within an organization facilitates or hinders creation of "communities of difference." Examines how constructing a sense of "we" or "they" may be rigid or exclusive, thus hindering community building. Offers examples from school settings and recommendations for promoting inclusion of…

Summarizes a study of two principals' efforts to restructure schools serving predominantly Native American populations as learning communities. Presents an empirically based conceptualization of community for cross-cultural settings and identifies implications for school leaders. Although consensus can't always be achieved, learning communities…

The American Indian Reservation Project trains and places student teachers in Navajo schools. Student teachers' efforts to promote pupils' self-esteem include using culturally relevant materials, positive reinforcement, empowerment, exploration of identity, alternative assessment, and a sense of community. (SK)

Navajo women have been at the core of economic and social control in their traditionally matrilineal society. Interviews with Navajo women in southeastern Utah suggest that the increasing educational attainment and career aspirations of young Navajo women are creating internal pressures for cultural change and modernization. (SV)

As the Navajo nation undergoes rapid assimilation and modernization, counseling needs of the Navajo children have changed in ways similar to counseling needs in developing or "Eastern Block" nations. An adolescent sub-culture, full of at-risk behaviors, is epidemic worldwide. The paper states that a multicultural perspective can provide…

Presents an interview with Luci Tapahonso, professor of English and writer of poetry, short stories, and children's books that depict modern Navajo life. Describes the strong sense of language in her family, her strong sense of herself as being part of a group, the importance of story telling, and how her two children's books came about. (SR)

This paper explores some examples of Indigenous philosophies from North America. It considers Navajo philosophy as presented by James McNeley and John Farella, Mabel McKay's Pomo Indian insights as presented by her student Gary Sarris, and spiritual insights into Indigenous education. These nondualistic philosophies describe the universe…

This performance guide is designed for teachers to use with students before and after a storytelling performance of "Coyote and Spider Woman and Other Creation Stories," by Geri Keams, a Navajo storyteller. The guide, called a "Cuesheet," contains seven activity sheets for use in class, addressing: (1) The Storyteller Tells Her…