The Pueblo People of the Southwest face numerous challenges with reference to language issues. A substantial number of Native American students are placed into special education possibly due to different linguistic abilities. The over-identification of Native American students for special education programs may be due to the lack of knowledge as a…

Humor is not only instinctive and a basic human need, but it also is very good medicine. Laughter boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, and is linked to healthy functioning organs. [This article was written with Mylo Redwater Smith.]

Despite extensive commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance in schools, little is known about how students think of its daily recitation. This study asked 88 Native American high school students about their experiences with classroom recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Aware that they had the right to refrain from participating, most students…

Many adults pursue college degrees with high hopes of attaining a job and financial stability. However, visualize being not only a full-time college student but also a parent, a rancher, and most importantly, an American Indian. Many students enrolled in higher education in the United States have the luxury of focusing their time on their studies,…

To better realize their goals and overcome the many hurdles they encounter, tribal college leaders established the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) to serve as the "collective voice and unifying spirit" of the tribal college movement. For over four decades, AIHEC has taken the dreams and aspirations of the tribal…

The Indian Education -- Formula Grants to Local Education Agencies (Indian Education Formula Grant) program is authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). It is the Department's principal vehicle for addressing the particular needs of Indian children. The program…

Visitors to the Yakama Indian Reservation in south-central Washington State can't help but notice Mount Adams. Known as Patu, or snowtopped mountain, and Xwayama, or golden eagle, in the Sahaptin language of the Columbia Plateau, the 12,276-foot peak stretches more than a mile above the forested ridges of the Cascade Range. Images of the mountain…

More than half of the Native American population has migrated to cities during the last 30 years resulting in a higher percentage of American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) youth growing up in urban areas than those of their parents' generation. The survival of the American Indian is no less a miracle when combining staggering statistics of poor…

American Indian higher education in the United States has evolved within paternalistic, hierarchical decision-making policies and practices based on complex sociopolitical and cultural factors since the 1600s. Indigenous peoples had historically been excluded from most decisions affecting their lives until the 20th century when a deliberate Indian…

Swami Vivekananda was an influential Indian saint, poet, philosopher and political revolutionary. His work can be seen as a conduit for South African Hindus who are part of the Indian diaspora, allowing them to connect with their historical, cultural and spiritual roots in the religious and conceptual world of India. The first step to decolonising…

Due to the influence of digital media, today's educators encounter unique challenges--and possibilities--surrounding efforts to advance civic dialogue and critical literacy. This case study, which focuses on two projects with rural Indigenous communities, describes student-led research and filmmaking as teaching pedagogy and research methodology…

This article explores the impact of the so-called 'blanket exercise', an interactive learning activity that engages individuals in rediscovering Canadian history and society through an Indigenous lens, in collaboration with First Nations, Métis and Inuit elders and community members. This exploratory and qualitative research discusses how the…

The introduction of smartphones has revolutionized how late adolescents (aged 18-21 years) access and use the internet. Vast troves of health information are today just a tap or swipe away, with smartphones and internet connectivity becoming increasingly accessible. The need for eHealth literacy among late adolescents is now gaining importance as…

Some institutions have incorporated Indigenous Student Affairs (ISA) programs as an approach to retaining Indigenous college students--but how well do we understand and support ISA work? We interviewed six ISA directors at PWIs across the United States about their roles and experiences on campus and focus on a theme of how the directors' work is…

Mixed languages like Media Lengua incorporate grammar from one source language (here, Quichua) but lexicon from another (here, Spanish). Due to their linguistic profile, they provide a unique window into bilingual language usage and language representation. Drawing on sociolinguistic, structural and psycholinguistic perspectives, the current…